What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term used to describe a group of non-progressive and non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development. Cerebral refers to the cerebrum in the brain and palsy is disorder of movement. There are many forms of cerebral palsy. For more information visit SCOPE on the links page or the hospital website has good information.

What is Spasticity?
This in simple terms means tight muscles.

Are there treatments available?
Cerebral Palsy cannot be actually treated. The event has happened and cannot be cured. However, therapies can help the symptoms. These include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, hydrotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, bowen therapy and hippotherapy, Botox and Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.

What is Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy? (SDR)
SDR involves sectioning (cutting) of some of the sensory nerve fibres that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord. Two groups of nerve roots leave the spinal cord and lie in the spinal canal. The ventral spinal roots send information to the muscle; the dorsal spinal roots transmit sensation from the muscle to the spinal cord.

At the time of the operation, the neurosurgeon divides each of the dorsal roots into 3-5 rootlets and stimulates each rootlet electrically. By examining electromyographic (EMG) responses from muscles in the lower extremities, the surgical team identifies the rootlets that cause spasticity. The abnormal rootlets are selectively cut, leaving the normal rootlets intact. This reduces messages from the muscle, resulting in a better balance of activities of nerve cells in the spinal cord, and thus reduces spasticity.

Why are you going to the USA? Don't they do it here?
No! A form of this operation is carried out at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic and District Hospital in Shropshire. However the acceptance criteria for this operation is very strict. Minimum requirements are the child must be at least 6 years of age and able to walk independently.

How much does it cost?
The hosptial give you an estimation of cost and this was 44,000 to 51,000 USD for us. If there are any complications and Keira needs to go back into hospital that costs an additional $1,000 a night. You then have to pay for accomodation for a month and flights as well, living expenses, car hire etc. We estimate that we will need in the region of £45,000

What can I do to help?

Initially we're asking people to contribute £1, almost everybody can afford £1. Obviously if you can afford more that'd be great. Next we're asking everyone to send this to everyone in their address book and asking them to do the same. Next if the company you work for is willing to help in any way, make a cash donation or a donation of goods or services that we can sell or raffle please please recommend us.

Hmmmm I'm not sure I like keeping my pounds for myself convince me.

If you need anymore convincing just think "what could I do with a pound today? I could buy a suspiciously low priced hamburger from McDonalds, or I could contribute to helping a five year old child to walk and improve every day of the rest of her life. Sounds like quite a simple choice when you lay it out like that doesn't it?