Help4Harvey - Please help a little boy to walk
By AmyLocksHeath | Tuesday, February 26, 2013, 09:03
My name is Harvey; I am three years old and live in Titchfield Park. I was born on 18th January 2010, six weeks early. Unfortunately my eagerness to join the world has left me suffering spastic diplegia cerebral palsy. This means I am unable to use my legs properly and cannot walk. In the long term, without adequate intervention, my legs will eventually become deformed and I’m likely to suffer from quite a bit of pain!
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Help4Harvey - Please help make a little boy's dreams come true
There is an operation that can help me; it’s called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR). It cuts the nerves at the bottom of my spine, removing the spasticity in my legs permanently. This sounds great, but in reality it’s just the start. I will need around two years of intense physiotherapy to fully exploit SDR, which may enable me to use my legs more normally – but even then I’ll never be able to run or walk for long distances.
The operation is available on the NHS, but it’s a post code lottery whether I will get funding or not and I’ve been told that recent applications in our area have been refused. Additionally, it often takes in excess of 18 months from referral to getting a decision on the operation on the NHS.
Therefore, my Mummy and Daddy intend to take me to St Louis, Missouri, USA, which is the world’s leading hospital for this operation, with over 2,500 successful operations. However, as you can guess, this operation is expensive, costing around £50,000 to have it and the associated physiotherapy. However, once this money is raised I can be operated upon very quickly.
Mummy and Daddy have created a website so you can find out all about me, my spastic diplegia, the operation I need, and how you can help me to walk by donating, or holding a money-raising event:
Mummy and Daddy are also writing a blog so you can find out the latest news about local fund raising events people are holding to help raise money for my operation: Help4Harvey Blog
You can also support me by following me here:
Thank you,
Harvey X X
Comments
Locks Heath Rotary and a Concert '4' Harvey
Within the local community there is an appeal to raise £50,000 to enable a young three year old to be taken to America to have an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy to enable him to walk. Unfortunately there is a post code lottery for the operation to be performed in this country; with a projected 18 months delay before decisions to operate is made, followed by two years of intensive physiotherapy. The delays could mean long term deformity and pain. Locks Heath Rotary organised a concert and raised £1600 so far, with pledges of over £500 to help reach the projected target of £50,000.
President Elect Chris Millburn headed a team to produce an evening of talented performers to entertain an extremely supportive audience. After such an evening, pledges and donations continue to accumulate to raise the grand total towards the projected figure. The total raised to date is £31,000 which will enable Harvey to travel to America and have the operation he so desperately needs.
John Hopwood
By bramma2 at 20:59 on 28/05/13
ReportThe Cake sale held at the Co-op in Locks Heath on Friday raised £340 for Help4Harvey! Many thanks to everyone who came along and bought some yummy cakes :-)
By AmyLocksHeath at 15:30 on 03/03/13
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