A Journey of Hope: Help Audrey Take Her First Steps

It all began on May 14, 2018. After nine months of a healthy and normal pregnancy, we found ourselves at SickKids Hospital. I was in labor for nearly 24 hours before doctors decided to perform an emergency C-section. By the time Audrey was born, she had already suffered severe oxygen deprivation. Our beautiful baby girl was immediately rushed to SickKids for treatment. It took nearly a month before we could finally bring her home.

Due to the lack of oxygen to her brain, Audrey was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy Spastic Quadriplegia. Since then, she has undergone numerous procedures and participated in multiple therapies to help with her development. Audrey has received a combination of physical, occupational, and speech therapy, worn Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs), and has had several rounds of Botox injections to alleviate the tightness in her leg muscles. She has shown incredible resilience along the way.

Audrey has made great strides. She can move around the house by crawling and is able to walk short distances with the help of a walker. She enjoys riding her special plasma car, loves drawing and crafts, and is a big fan of Barbie dolls. Anything pink is a favorite! Audrey does well in school, has lots of friends, and is known for being a happy, kind, and loving little girl. She is a typical six-year-old, despite the neurological challenges she faces.

Today, Audrey has a chance to receive a life-changing surgery that could help her walk independently!

The procedure is called Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening (SPML). Unfortunately, this surgery is not available in Canada, and there are only four doctors in the world trained to perform it. Audrey is fortunate to have the chance to be treated by Dr. Roy Nuzzo, the very doctor who pioneered the technique over 20 years ago.

We are scheduled for surgery on July 8, 2025, at the Outlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey. The total cost of the procedure, including hospitalization and medications, will be $25,000 USD. Afterward, Audrey will need to complete intensive rehabilitation here in Canada. The therapy program will consist of three hours of daily sessions for approximately 8 weeks, at a cost of $18,000 CAD.

We are reaching out to you, our family, friends, and our community, to help us raise the necessary funds to give Audrey the chance to walk independently—something we have all dreamed of for her.

Every contribution, no matter how small, will bring us one step closer to making Audrey’s dream a reality.

Please consider helping us on this journey, and together, we can make Audrey’s first steps unassisted by a walker possible.

Thank you for being part of Audrey’s journey.

*** For our Canadian family and friends, E-transfer is also available to donate directly to Audrey without the charges. For your donation please use the email [email redacted]. Thank you.