Keep Matilda Walking USA

First of all thank you for visiting my page. I'm 13 years old now and as some of you will remember have cerebral palsy which affects my legs, hands and mobility. I've had a number of surgeries to help me along the way but now it's vitally important for me to have some more. It's important because these are last ones I will have while growing so they will set me up for life, that's why I have to get them right, on top of that I have a window of about 7 months to do it. I've done so much to maintain my independence I don't want to lose it.

So, some of the time I use my wheelchair or a Kaye walker because these are the best options for me however I like to keep up with my friends so will walk for short distances.But this hurts to do because my hamstrings have bad spasticity meaning they're tight and painful all the time. This makes me walk with a crouch which causes more problems for my hips and back. Then on top of that my balance and posture are affected so I fall over, like all the the time... my knees are constantly cut and bruised and I think I have a loyalty card for my local minor injury unit. added to this joyous mix is the fact that my left leg which is more badly affected by the CP  has grown shorter than right leg. I'm just in so so much pain with all this I'm missing out on life because I can't join in to the best of my ability, I can't sleep because of pain and have to take medicines to relax my muscles so I can sleep. Not much fun for a girl my age.

To set me up in the best way for adult life and keep me walking independently I need to have surgery to my hamstrings in order to lengthen them, I can lose the crouch and improve my posture reducing pressure on my back. All this together will then do away with the constant pain and discomfort I am in. So the reason I'm fundraising is that I'm going back to a private doctor who has successfully carried out previous surgeries on me which have helped me massively! The NHS say that I can't have these surgeries through them so here I am.

It would mean so much for me if you were to help me not be in so much pain not only now now but into adulthood. I'm an independent soul and want to stay that way. I want to keep up with my friends and I just can't .

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, then the funds will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objects.  If in those circumstances we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives, then any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.