John's Cerebral Palsy Journey
Donation protected
John is 5 years old and was born with Cerebral Palsy. He lives in Adelaide, Australia with his mum, dad and older sister. He was born on Christmas day 2008 10 weeks earlier than he was due.
Cerebral Palsy makes the muscles in John's legs very tight and sometimes painful due to muscle spasm. It also makes it difficult for John to do things that come naturally to other children such as walking, running, sitting on the floor, being involved in games and being physically active.
But there is hope!
A surgical procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) has been shown to permanently reduce the spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy. This results in improvements in sitting, mobility and balance. For John, this operation, along with intense therapy post-surgery could be the difference between always having to use a walker, and one day being able to run and achieve his goal of playing football.
This potentially life changing surgery is performed at the St Louis Children's Hospital by Dr Park who has performed over 2,500 SDR surgeries in children. But to get here we need to raise $70,000. It's a big challenge but as his parents we will do whatever it takes to make this happen for our brave and determined little man.
If you would like to help John achieve his dream of a life without muscle pain and the freedom to run and play like kids his own age he would be forever grateful.
Cerebral Palsy makes the muscles in John's legs very tight and sometimes painful due to muscle spasm. It also makes it difficult for John to do things that come naturally to other children such as walking, running, sitting on the floor, being involved in games and being physically active.
But there is hope!
A surgical procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) has been shown to permanently reduce the spasticity in children with Cerebral Palsy. This results in improvements in sitting, mobility and balance. For John, this operation, along with intense therapy post-surgery could be the difference between always having to use a walker, and one day being able to run and achieve his goal of playing football.
This potentially life changing surgery is performed at the St Louis Children's Hospital by Dr Park who has performed over 2,500 SDR surgeries in children. But to get here we need to raise $70,000. It's a big challenge but as his parents we will do whatever it takes to make this happen for our brave and determined little man.
If you would like to help John achieve his dream of a life without muscle pain and the freedom to run and play like kids his own age he would be forever grateful.
Organizer
Kate Bishop
Organizer
Ascot Park SA
