Austin's Wish to Walk
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Austin has been accepted to have a life changing surgery in the USA called SDR. This surgery will dramatically change and improve life for our son: it will reduce his spasticity, help him walk independently and enable him to live a pain free life, with more independence. But we need your help!
About Austin... Austin is a funny, bubbly 4 year old, who loves cars, trains, jumping in muddy puddles and the park. But Austin has cerebral palsy; he was born premature at 30 weeks and because of this he acquired a brain injury. Austin's cerebral palsy affects both his legs and his left hand. He suffers from spasticity, a tightening of the muscles, which makes moving, walking and everyday day tasks extremely difficult. This increased muscle tone means he is fighting against his body to move, so Austin currently cannot walk independently. He uses a walker to get around, and relies heavily on his family for help during his day to day life.
But there’s an opportunity... Austin has been accepted to have a major life changing operation that will permanently reduce his spasticity. It is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy or SDR in St. Louis, America with Dr Parks. This surgery is performed in the lower part of the spine by severing through nerves to reduce the spasticity in his body. While this isn't a cure to his cerebral palsy, without this spasticity his body won't be as restricted, he will have better posture and control, gain the ability to move in and out of positions with more ease, be more comfortable and in less pain, have a better quality of life and it is expected he will be able to walk independently on all surfaces! This opportunity will definitely change his life for the better.
Austin is due to have the surgery in June 2021. This operation will change his life, but the downfall is the expense of the surgery. This is where we need your help.
You can join us... We need your help to fundraise $97,000. This money will go towards the SDR surgery itself which is $39,745USD ($58,055AUD), orthopaedic surgery on his left ankle which could cost up to $12,951USD ($18,917AUD) and equipment to support him afterwards $6500USD ($9494AUD). Whatever we have left over will be put towards flights and one months accomodation whilst in St Louis.
Please join us on our mission of making Austin's dream to walk a reality. Help him live a pain free and independent life. Please donate if you can, share our mission, or help be a part of our fundraising team. We appreciate any help we can get towards achieving this goal.
About Austin... Austin is a funny, bubbly 4 year old, who loves cars, trains, jumping in muddy puddles and the park. But Austin has cerebral palsy; he was born premature at 30 weeks and because of this he acquired a brain injury. Austin's cerebral palsy affects both his legs and his left hand. He suffers from spasticity, a tightening of the muscles, which makes moving, walking and everyday day tasks extremely difficult. This increased muscle tone means he is fighting against his body to move, so Austin currently cannot walk independently. He uses a walker to get around, and relies heavily on his family for help during his day to day life.
But there’s an opportunity... Austin has been accepted to have a major life changing operation that will permanently reduce his spasticity. It is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy or SDR in St. Louis, America with Dr Parks. This surgery is performed in the lower part of the spine by severing through nerves to reduce the spasticity in his body. While this isn't a cure to his cerebral palsy, without this spasticity his body won't be as restricted, he will have better posture and control, gain the ability to move in and out of positions with more ease, be more comfortable and in less pain, have a better quality of life and it is expected he will be able to walk independently on all surfaces! This opportunity will definitely change his life for the better.
Austin is due to have the surgery in June 2021. This operation will change his life, but the downfall is the expense of the surgery. This is where we need your help.
You can join us... We need your help to fundraise $97,000. This money will go towards the SDR surgery itself which is $39,745USD ($58,055AUD), orthopaedic surgery on his left ankle which could cost up to $12,951USD ($18,917AUD) and equipment to support him afterwards $6500USD ($9494AUD). Whatever we have left over will be put towards flights and one months accomodation whilst in St Louis.
Please join us on our mission of making Austin's dream to walk a reality. Help him live a pain free and independent life. Please donate if you can, share our mission, or help be a part of our fundraising team. We appreciate any help we can get towards achieving this goal.
Fundraising team (2)
Katherine Vearing
Organizer
Moonlight Flat VIC
Julian Vearing
Team member
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