Thomas' Journey
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HELP 4-YEAR OLD THOMAS HAECKER GET LIFE-CHANGING SURGERY!
We're trying to raise $25,000 to help pay for a life-changing surgery that will help Thomas learn to walk independently!
This is Thomas.
A typical 4 year old boy who loves playing with his toys, especially his Nintendo Wii, going to school and visiting his cousins. He is also learning to enjoy playing with his little sister Olivia - a work in progress ;-). Thomas was born extremley premature and suffered brain damage due to severe internal bleeding. He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a condition that impacts muscle tone and impairs muscle coordination in both his legs. He still loves to move around as best he can and tries very hard to keep up with his cousins and friends. His father and I want to create the best possible future for Thomas and enable him to be more independent. With that in mind we have researched different treatment and surgical options for our little boy over the last few years.
Why We Need Your Help
Thomas is an excellent candidate for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and has been accepted by Dr. T.S. Park at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for May 11th 2017. His predictions for Thomas are: Better balance, transitions will be easier and faster, his spasticity (tightness) will be permanently reduced, level of comfort will improve and his sitting and standing postures will also improve. Dr. Park feels that Thomas will be able to walk independently in all environments.
To us this is such exciting and inspiring news! We’re very optimistic about Thomas' future but we’re facing one obstacle: OHIP will only pay for a portion of the surgery.
More About SDR Surgery
SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) surgery was pioneered by Dr. Park at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital and he’s the world leader in performing this procedure. It involves surgically entering the spine to remove a portion of one vertebrae and stimulating the nerves to determine which are causing the muscle tightness associated with Cerebral Palsy and then cutting those nerves. The tightness is what can deform the bones as the child grows and this surgery will hopefully ensure that Thomas avoids other painful and invasive surgeries down the road, along with giving him more independent movement.
What We Need
We’re trying to raise funds to help pay for the intensive physiotherapy Thomas needs immediately after SDR as well as tendon-lengthening surgery about a week after the first operation. Neither are covered by OHIP. Total costs are over $25,000. Thomas and his mom will have to stay in St. Louis for at least one month. We must pre-pay for everything even before Thomas can be admitted. That is why, with hopeful hearts, his father and I created this page to ask for your help.
Thank you so much for your interest in our little boy.
Corey and Keisha Haecker
For more information about Dr. Park and SDR surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, you can visit: http://www.neurosurgery.wustl.edu/patient-care/specialties/pediatrics/spasticity-and-cerebral-palsy-206
A very informative, detailed brochure is available here: http://www.stlouischildrens.org/sites/default/files/services/cerebral_spasticity/files/SDRbrochure_final.pdf
For those interested in receiving a tax receipt, please use this link to donate: http://www.handicareintl.org/SDR/Registration.php
You can click the link below to follow our journey:
https://fb.me/ThomasHaeckerJourney
We're trying to raise $25,000 to help pay for a life-changing surgery that will help Thomas learn to walk independently!
This is Thomas.
A typical 4 year old boy who loves playing with his toys, especially his Nintendo Wii, going to school and visiting his cousins. He is also learning to enjoy playing with his little sister Olivia - a work in progress ;-). Thomas was born extremley premature and suffered brain damage due to severe internal bleeding. He was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a condition that impacts muscle tone and impairs muscle coordination in both his legs. He still loves to move around as best he can and tries very hard to keep up with his cousins and friends. His father and I want to create the best possible future for Thomas and enable him to be more independent. With that in mind we have researched different treatment and surgical options for our little boy over the last few years.
Why We Need Your Help
Thomas is an excellent candidate for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery and has been accepted by Dr. T.S. Park at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for May 11th 2017. His predictions for Thomas are: Better balance, transitions will be easier and faster, his spasticity (tightness) will be permanently reduced, level of comfort will improve and his sitting and standing postures will also improve. Dr. Park feels that Thomas will be able to walk independently in all environments.
To us this is such exciting and inspiring news! We’re very optimistic about Thomas' future but we’re facing one obstacle: OHIP will only pay for a portion of the surgery.
More About SDR Surgery
SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) surgery was pioneered by Dr. Park at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital and he’s the world leader in performing this procedure. It involves surgically entering the spine to remove a portion of one vertebrae and stimulating the nerves to determine which are causing the muscle tightness associated with Cerebral Palsy and then cutting those nerves. The tightness is what can deform the bones as the child grows and this surgery will hopefully ensure that Thomas avoids other painful and invasive surgeries down the road, along with giving him more independent movement.
What We Need
We’re trying to raise funds to help pay for the intensive physiotherapy Thomas needs immediately after SDR as well as tendon-lengthening surgery about a week after the first operation. Neither are covered by OHIP. Total costs are over $25,000. Thomas and his mom will have to stay in St. Louis for at least one month. We must pre-pay for everything even before Thomas can be admitted. That is why, with hopeful hearts, his father and I created this page to ask for your help.
Thank you so much for your interest in our little boy.
Corey and Keisha Haecker
For more information about Dr. Park and SDR surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, you can visit: http://www.neurosurgery.wustl.edu/patient-care/specialties/pediatrics/spasticity-and-cerebral-palsy-206
A very informative, detailed brochure is available here: http://www.stlouischildrens.org/sites/default/files/services/cerebral_spasticity/files/SDRbrochure_final.pdf
For those interested in receiving a tax receipt, please use this link to donate: http://www.handicareintl.org/SDR/Registration.php
You can click the link below to follow our journey:
https://fb.me/ThomasHaeckerJourney
Organizer
Kay Young
Organizer
Etobicoke, ON
