Oscar's walk

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Oscar has Cerebral Palsy.

SDR surgery is most beneficial when completed on children who have spastic diplegia and are between the ages of 3 and 12. The operation takes around five hours, starting in the upper lumbar spine. The sensory nerve roots are divided and stimulated to identify which nerves contribute to the spasticity. Once identified, these roots are divided, aiming to divide 50-70% of the sensory roots that contribute to the spasticity symptoms, whilst leaving the normal rootlets intact.

We are still actively within the NHS system for SDR surgery, but it is unlikely that Oscar will be successful in getting surgery at the time that would benefit him most. We expect to have to fund his surgery privately. The cost between the limited UK options and the St. Louis hospital in America are very similar. SDR surgery is complex and highly technical, taking several hours. We believe that the best outcome is achieved with the experience behind the clinical decision-making required throughout this delicate procedure.

St. Louis' leading pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. TS Park, has performed over three thousand rhizotomies! We have now seen so many of Dr. Park's patients and believe that there is no better surgeon for this procedure.

Oscar's condition is the result of being born early at 33 weeks, where he had breathing difficulties. Like all parents, we want to give Oscar the best chance of improving his physical development and having a chance to walk like any other child.

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.