Life changing surgery for Louie

Hi guys,

I’m reaching out to you because little Louie is preparing for his next huge challenge- life changing surgery in the USA. This kid has been through more challenges in his 5 years than most people would face in a lifetime, after contracting a virus at birth which has impaired his sight and ability to move normally. This has resulted in him being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, vision impairment, seizures and global development delay.

Louie’s parents were told at 10 days old that he would never see, walk, sit or have any independent movement. 5 years on, many thousands of hours of therapies and hundreds of medical appointments, he is doing things he was never supposed to be able to do. However, cerebral palsy is complex, and Louie’s muscles are constantly tightening involuntarily, causing him a lot of pain and reducing his ability to sit, stand and walk for long periods. After 5 years of this spasticity affecting his body, his bones are starting to pull out of the joints, causing him constant pain.

The only permanent solution is Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery at a specialised cerebral palsy centre hospital in the USA. This is major surgery that will permanently reduce the spasticity in his muscles, allowing him to sit and stand, walk freely in his walker and be free of pain. This surgery is not available in Australia yet for kids like Louie.

This surgery is offered in a specialised centre for Cerebral Palsy in the USA, and kids who have this surgery are consistently able to move more freely and without pain. The cost of the surgery and medical fees are $85K. The surgery is expected to help his everyday movements significantly, and most important to the family, and a huge reduction in pain for Louie. There is a month long stay to relearn how to move and function without spasticity, and daily therapies for 18 months afterwards.

The surgery is set for August 2021 and as the family prepare to fly to USA and undertake the biggest challenge yet, let’s show our support, all donations, love and prayers will help them.

To check out SDR surgery in USA click on the link below

https://www.stlouischildrens.org/conditions-treatments/center-for-cerebral-palsy-spasticity/about-selective-dorsal-rhizotomy