Hi!

We are the proud parents of a beautiful, intelligent, and determined young girl named Olivia. Olivia was born in 2018 with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects her ability to move and control her muscles. Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage or abnormalities in the brain, typically occurring before, during, or shortly after birth. This can happen due to a variety of reasons, such as lack of oxygen to the brain, infection during pregnancy, or head injuries.

Despite her challenges, Olivia has always been an inspiration to those around her. She never lets her condition get in the way of living a happy life. If she isn't handing out treats to every dog in the Metrotown area, she can often be found assisting those in need - whether that be raising funds for BCSPCA or comforting elderly ladies that have fallen :)

Olivia is currently receiving private physiotherapy sessions every week, as well as weekly physiotherapy swimming sessions and occupational therapy sessions to help her achieve her full potential. Not to mention the countless hours spent at home carrying out exercises and stretches each and every day.

She has made great progress over the past couple of years but is still very much unable to walk independently, and with kindergarten due to begin in September, we want to help Olivia be as mobile as possible.

What we're hoping for

Towards the end of 2022, we were made aware of a medical procedure called "Selective Percutaneous Muscle Lengthening" or SPML. This non-invasive procedure will allow for relief of the spasticity in Olivia's legs and is the best chance she has to walk, giving her a higher quality of life and the ability to reach her full potential.

The SPML procedure is not available in Canada and is currently only performed by 4 surgeons in the world, 2 in the US, 1 in Germany, and 1 in Greece. The original doctor to perform SPML, and the one we'd like Olivia to see, is based in New Jersey, USA.

Olivia's amazing physiotherapist has suggested to a handful of her clients over the past several years that they consider SPML; each and every child that received the procedure has had life-changing results! This, coupled with the hours upon hours of research we have put in, confirms to us that Olivia too would benefit so much to the point that her life will change for the better.

When we first contacted Dr. Roy Nuzzo's office, we were informed he was retiring this summer and there was no availability for Olivia. We were placed on a waitlist. Well, last week we received the best news possible - the surgeon has opened up a little more availability and Olivia has a surgery date of September 6, 2023!

This is amazing news for Olivia but has caught us off-guard.

It will come as no surprise to most that as we have to travel to the US, the fees associated with this surgery are astronomically high especially compared to what we are used to in Canada and the UK. The surgery itself amounts to $35,000 CAD, then there will be the custom ankle-foot orthotics (AFOs) immediately following the surgery which will be ~$7,000, and of course, travel expenses associated with 2 trips to New Jersey, for a week each time.

We are reaching out to our friends, family, and kind strangers for help in raising the funds needed for Olivia's surgery. Any contribution will make a big difference in her life and sharing this far and wide would mean the world to us all. We understand that times are tough for many, but any support you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Olivia has a bright future ahead of her, and with your help, we can make sure that she has every opportunity to achieve her dreams. Thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity.

Thank you,

Matt, Taylor, and Olivia