The parents of a seven-year-old boy with cerebral palsy are desperately trying to raise enough money to pay for a change in their son’s life.
And Ian and Michelle Graham are “crushed” by the support that little Joshua has received so far.
More than £ 21,000 has already been poured into the procedure, which will ensure that Joshua’s condition does not worsen more than it has already, and that it will improve his quality of life.
Born two months in early 2013, weighing just 3lb 140z, Joshua was later diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy.
This means that the life of the Canonbie Primary student revolves around physiotherapy and muscle strengthening exercises.
He even has to watch TV in an upright frame or wear his legs to make sure he stretches well.
Painful cramps wake him up at night, but despite everything, mother Michelle says that her boy “loves the love of life and is always smiling and joking.”
Michelle, 33, said: “Joshua’s diagnosis was shocking to our whole family, but we make sure he has the same experiences as any other child his age.”
Michelle and agricultural engineer Ian, 35, first heard of an operation called Selective Spinal Rhizotomy (SDR), which could help Joshua, five years ago.
But the strict criteria mean that he does not qualify for it in Scotland and has refused funding to Dumfries and Galloway NHS to pay for the procedure in England.
It is available at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, but Joshua is also not eligible for the NHS in England, as the family lives in Scotland.
Instead, they will have to pay privately. So they teamed up with the children’s charity Just4Children in an attempt to raise money.
Michelle, also the mother of four-year-old Edith, added: “SDR is an irreversible surgical procedure that aims to reduce spasticity (tightening) in the lower extremities.
“Spasticity is the result of abnormal communication between the brain and nerves.
“SDR is effective in treating spasticity by cutting the nerve roots in the spinal canal, which send unusual signals to the muscles.
“SDR is not a cure for cerebral palsy, but it intends to improve the quality of life and / or mobility of children affected by it.
“Joshua desperately needs this operation to prevent things from getting worse for him.
“We are trying to raise £ 25,000 and if we exceed our target, all the extra money will be used perfectly during our time at Alder Hey and the crucial post-surgery period, which requires a minimum of two years of intense physiology, as well as any additional equipment that may be required of Joshua in the years to come.
“We believe that the SPT will give Joshua the best possible quality of life.
“We were overwhelmed by the support we have already received, and if we can overcome the last hurdle, we hope that Joshua will be able to perform the operation sometime this year.”
To make a very valuable donation, please visit the Joshua Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/campaign/JoshuasSDRJourney
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