My name is Cherie and I am 5 years old. I was born on the 2nd of August 2006, 12 weeks premature, weighing 960g / 2 lb 1.86 oz. I was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia at 18 months old. Cerebral Palsy affects mostly my lower limbs. I am unable to stand or walk unaided, dress myself and I have difficulty with my balance so I fall over a lot. This makes everyday tasks that others take
for granted extremely hard for me to do. I have a walker to help me get around and when my legs get tired I am using my blue wheelchair. I also have to use splints on my legs to give them support. Every day after school my mum puts me on my stander to watch my favourite programs Max and Ruby, Dora, Caillou or P***y. The stander-time is not always nice but mum says it helps to stretch my leg muscles so I have to do it. Sometimes I wonder why I can’t run, jump, skip or walk like my friends? My family and friends are trying to raise 60,000 euro to take me to America to see Dr. Park who can perform an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy. This operation has been carried out in St. Louis Children Hospital, Missouri, USA since 1986. The operation will cure the spasticity and give me the chance of a normal life free from pain and dependency on others. Dr. Park has predicted that following the surgery I might be able to walk unaided and play like all my friends. I'd love to ride a bike or skip with a skipping rope. Now I can only watch my friends doing that and it makes me sad sometimes. This operation is not funded by the HSE and is entirely funded through donations and fundraising events. Mum told me that 60 000 is a lot of money, so anything that you can do, will help me take steps toward my dream of being able to walk. Thank you for your support! Love,
Cherie
