Henry’s Wish to Walk

Please help Just4Children raise funds for Henry to have life changing SDR surgery, post-operative care, physiotherapy and specialised equipment to lead a fuller, more independent life.

Henry is aged 2 from Beckenham. He was born 13 weeks early on the 19th of September 2016 in a very poor condition due to many complications and as a result had suffered Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) which was likely caused by a lack of oxygen or infection at birth. PVL is damage and softening of the white matter within the brain near the cerebral ventricles and we were told this is linked to major neurodevelopmental impairments.

No one could tell us what the future might hold, and put simply, you are told to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Henry didn’t develop physically like his peers and was significantly delayed on his gross motor skills. Following multiple appointments and assessments we were finally provided a diagnosis in October 2017.

Henry has Cerebral Palsy and this affects his ability to do many of the things we take for granted, like sitting, walking or simply playing independently. In spite of all of his challenges he is the happiest, most determined little boy, bursting with personality and a fighter from the day he was born.

There is a surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) which although invasive has an extremely high success rate and in the vast majority of cases significantly improves patients quality of life. The procedure aims to reduce spasticity (tight and stiff muscle tone) in the lower limbs, improve mobility and increase independence. We are hopeful that eventually it will also lead to Henry being able to walk independently.

Henry’s Wish to Walk has been set up to help raise funds for Henry to have this potentially life changing surgery and to fund the intensive physiotherapy that follows and is so critical to the success rate. Please help us to raise enough money.

Thank you.

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