Help Adam & fam take this next big step - surgery!

Just look at that sweet smile! For those who don’t have the joy of knowing him directly, my 5-yr-old nephew, Adam, has two siblings, a love of Lego, the busy life of a kindergartener, and cerebral palsy. Spasticity (tightness) hinders Adam’s legs from moving and stops him from being able to walk on his own. Whenever he tries to take a step his nerves ‘fire’ which causes his muscles to tighten up.  Right now Adam is a great candidate for a one-time life-changing surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). SDR will permanently remove the spasticity from Adam's legs. Just before Christmas, Adam and family heard great news that he has a surgery date at the end of January! The thing is, they need some help to make it happen.    While David (dad) and Emily (mom) are so thankful to be in Ontario where the surgery is offered and the cost of the surgery is covered – there is an expected 3-month rehabilitation period of intensive physiotherapy. Therefore, Emily (an ICU nurse and the sole income support for the family) will have to take the time off work to assist Adam at facilities in Toronto, while David (who himself struggles with daily chronic and acute health issues), Kate (sister) and Caelan (brother) – muster on with life in Hamilton this winter. Funds raised will go directly towards the added essential living costs while the family has to maintain the two separate locations on top of the gap in income. Therefore, any help that you can afford to give would be so very much appreciated!    Emily also wants to keep everyone informed of Adam’s progress before and after the surgery and will be using this platform to do so. Being three provinces over, I’m definitely looking forward to their sweet smiling faces on the video updates that she’s promised me! -- Jill A little more about Adam's health journey and this next step from Emily: Adam was born with cerebral palsy as a result of a pregnancy complication that caused him to be born 8 weeks premature. Adam struggled to sit up on his own. When he crawled, he pulled himself along the ground with his arms. He could pull to stand but would often fall straight backwards. With a lot of physiotherapy and specially designed braces for his legs, Adam has come a long way. He can stand and balance independently for 60 seconds, he can crawl using his legs, and he can walk while holding onto his walker. The Surgery This life changing surgery is offered at SickKids in Toronto, Ontario.  The neurosurgery team thinks that Adam is a great candidate for the surgery. At this time, only 15 children living with cerebral palsy in Ontario get this opportunity per year. It is an eight-hour surgery, during which doctors will test Adam’s nerves in his lower spinal column, finding the ones that cause the spasticity and these nerves will be cut. After the surgery, Adam and I will stay as inpatients for 5-7 days. For the first two days Adam has to lie completely flat to avoid potential harmful side effects. I hope to keep him entertained with Paw Patrol, his favourite TV show, and his favourite toys - cars and Lego.  Then, working closely with physiotherapists, he will make his first moves – learning how to roll to his side and trying to wiggle his toes. If all does well, they will then be transferred to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto for the next three months. The Rehabilitation During his three months at Holland Bloorview, Adam will be doing intensive physiotherapy. As a significant number of nerves to his legs will be cut, his muscles will have to be re-trained and strengthened. Adam will learn how to roll over, then get on all fours, crawl, pull to stand, cruise and then take steps with his walker. While at the rehab centre in appointments leading up to this surgery, Adam has admired the pool. He loves swimming and swimming lessons and he hopes to make use of the pool during his time there. When discharged home, the rehab journey will continue. Adam will go to the Ron Joyce Children’s Centre three times every week for physiotherapy for the next year or more if needed. A life spasticity free At times, Adam wakes in the night with painful muscle cramps or sore knees. When a person has spasticity, their muscles are always tight and the muscles don’t grow along with their bones. Bones continue to grow no matter what your muscles are doing. This results in bone and joint deformities and painful muscles contractures. If the spasticity is removed form Adam’s legs, his muscles will be able to grow along with his bones and avoid these things. Also, if the spasticity is removed, Adam’s step length and balance will also improve, allowing him to stand longer without support, improve his walking pattern, stop his legs from crossing so that he doesn’t trip on his feet and allow him to walk with less support. Thank you for taking the time to learn about our sweet little Adam and his journey. Many thanks in advance for helping our family afford this life-changing step. Love, Emily and David