Connie is a 3 year old girl from Redhill in Surrey with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. Just4Children want to help her in accessing surgery, therapies, equipment and to fulfil her dream of being independent.
Hello, my name is Connie and I am 3 years old. I was born 9 weeks early. When I was 6 months old my family were told that I had suffered bilateral brain damage caused by lack of oxygen either before, during or after my birth. This has caused a condition called Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) which has led to me having Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy.
Having Quad CP means that all of my limbs are affected. The muscles in my arms and legs can get very tight and often cause me some pain. I work very hard doing physiotherapy and do stretches plus other activities to help loosen my muscles while I wear splints on my legs and I have a walking frame that helps me to walk.
I’m not able to do the things that most other children my age or younger can do. I can not sit independently, nor roll over or wiggle my toes. I am solely dependent on my parents to get me dressed, brush my teeth and put on my own shoes. I watch and want to do all the things that other children my age can do, like play in the park, jump in a puddle, play at soft play, ride a bike and just generally being able to move around independently. To be able to stand and walk would be all my dreams come true.
If I strengthen my muscles, we can apply to see if I am a candidate for an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). The surgery would involve cutting the sensory nerve fibres which are sending incorrect signals to my brain. Having this operation would give me a greater chance of being independent and remove any spasticity and tightness that my muscles have, which is something that will get worse as I grow. This could help me walk on my own one day!
The only way to make me stronger is by having regular, intensive therapy with specialist equipment, most of which can not be accessed in this country or via the NHS. Unfortunately, home therapy, conductive education sessions, and NHS physiotherapy alone are just not enough.
The operation along with expenses, equipment and intensive physiotherapy for the year following will cost a whopping £90,000.
My family want to give me the best possible chance of independence they can, but this is a cost they just can not met by themselves and so we ask you from the bottom of our hearts to please help us raise as much money as we can to help me.
Please help my wish come true xx
