Hot tub brings 'cajuzzi' joy for brave Hayley (From Western Telegraph)

Hot tub brings 'cajuzzi' joy for brave Hayley

A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD girl with a rare genetic condition has had a dream come true thanks to a Pembrokeshire couple.

Hayley Okines suffers from progeria, which mimics the aging process at an accelerated rate. Sally Koob von Lowenstein, of Hayscastle, saw a programme about Hayley in the Channel 5 documentary series Extraordinary People.

She said: "Being a mum, it really pulled at my heart strings."

During the programme, Hayley got particularly excited about a visit to a spa-style bath - proudly telling her grandmother she had been in a 'cajuzzi'.

"That was it," said Sally, who runs Castle Hot Tubs with her husband Dieter. "By hook or by crook we would get her her own cajuzzi."

Sally contacted hot tub suppliers Aquagarde and, last Monday, a brand new, four-seater hot tub was delivered to Hayley's home in Bexhill on Sea, Sussex.

"It was fantastic," said Sally who admitted to a teary moment. "The neighbours all came out into the street to watch."

Parents Kerry and Mark Okines said: "She really loves it and it will save us a lot of time." Hayley travels up to 45 minutes each way twice a week to attend hydrotherapy sessions . Mr Okines said they will now be able to do therapy at home on a daily basis and cut sessions to once a week.

The natural water sanitation system used by Aquagarde will also be better for Hayley's sensitive skin.

After hydrotherapy sessions she needs to wash away the pool chemicals before having moisturising oil rubbed into her dry skin.