Oliver's Marching Fund

Hi, my name is Oliver and was born on the 12th March 2004 in Derby. My birth wasn’t the best and I ended up being ventilated and placed in the baby unit battling lack of oxygen, low blood sugars, and seizures amongst other things. But thankfully after 5 weeks of care and worry I was finally sent home. 

At 7 months it was noticed by my mum that I wasn’t progressing as expected, I couldn’t roll and I leaned over noticeably to my left side. After a bit of convincing my GP finally assessed me with an MRI, EEG and vision test which concluded the worst that I had significant brain damage which progressed to being diagnosed at 1 year as Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy.

Needless to say I have my struggles; my left side and right leg are affected with tightened muscles so I find walking and balance hard work. I can’t learn as quickly as other children and my speech isn’t great but my mum got me into a brilliant school and I’m getting better.

Hey but it’s not all doom and gloom I’m still as much a cheeky lad with a bright smile. I love music and have a real knack for quickly learning a song, and though the words aren’t perfect the tune is always spot on. I like visiting new places and meeting new people, I never forget a face particularly if they give me jaffa cakes. School is amazing and I’ve made so many new friends. I now also have 2 sisters, Isobel and Emmie to play with and though they are always stealing my stuff and trying to dress me up like a fairy I love and care for them like a big brother should. 

So let’s cut to the chase, why am I asking for your help; well I’m 10 now and if my legs keep growing but my muscles keep contracting I’m not going to be able to walk at all in 5 years. My mum and dad took me to meet a very clever man at Nottingham Hospital who says he can operate on the nerves in my spine which will stop my brain sending mixed signals to my legs.

As you’d expect this treatment and after care isn’t cheap, £25,000 in total and the NHS don’t yet pay for this sort of thing for kids over 10 like me. But it would be fantastic to be able to walk better and finally beat my sisters to a football when playing in the park. The clever doctor also said that if my brain doesn’t have to think about moving all the time my learning and speech might improve too, bonus right!!

So please help me stay out of a wheelchair and keep me marching on – Thank you in advance for your support

If you'd like to find out more about the SDR procedure please follow this link -

http://www.stlouischildrens.org/our-services/center-cerebral-palsy-spasticity/about-selective-dorsal-rhizotomy-sdr

Please follow Oliver's SDR journey on facebook at.                                                Oliver's marching fund

Or contact us with any fundraising ideas, support or help at. sarahrichardson2015@hotmail.com

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