Help me take ‘Small Steps’ towards my dream of being able to walk.

As parents, we just want the best for Sophie.

We want to ensure that she reaches her maximum potential.

This is why we are taking her to St Louis, America where she has been selected for a life changing operation called ‘Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy’ (SDR).

This will greatly improve Sophie’s quality of life as everyday tasks will become easier due to increased flexibility in her limbs.

The children’s hospital in St Louis has strongly recommended that Sophie has this operation. They have said that she is an excellent candidate for the surgery and predict the following for her:
 Her sitting and standing postures will improve;Her transitions between postures will be easier and faster;Her balance and level of comfort will both improve;And the best one for us, as her parents, to read is:They expect that Sophie will be able to walk independently in all environments.

Even with all of the problems she has, people who come into contact with her, either friends / family or medical professionals, say that she is adorable! What she lacks in the ability to walk is made up in her ability to talk! She literally talks non-stop from the minute she wakes to when she drops off to sleep at night. She is a determined, happy, funny, intelligent little girl and we are so proud that she is our daughter.

The first step of the SDR operation involves the removal of bone from one of the vertebrae in the lower back in order to gain access to the central nerve system.

Secondly, a test is conducted on each of the nerves to differentiate those that are receiving clear signals from the brain to the nerves that aren’t.

The third step in the procedure is to sever the nerves that are not receiving clear signals.

The operation is non-reversible. Once the operation is finished intensive physiotherapy is required, over a minimum period of a year, in order for the patient to gain the full range of movement that the operation is expected to deliver.

Donate via Just Giving

Follow Sophie's Progress on Facebook

Follow Sophie's Progress on Twitter