Good G news for little battler
IT’S been a long road, but little Odie O’Brien is well on the way to achieving her dream, to not only walk unaided, but to dance too!
It was way back in July 2018 when the Drogheda Independent first carried the story on the front page, of the Highlands girl who longed to walk, and less than 18 months later, thanks to the generosity of the Drogheda people, her wishes are coming true.
Odie (6) and her parents Joan and David have just returned from a successful trip to America, where following two operations on her legs, she can finally walk with just the aid of sticks.
And they too can soon be tossed aside!
“It is fantastic, and the operations have gone as well as we could have hoped for,” says David.
“She is such a little trooper, and both surgeons are happy with the outcome, and she has achieved all the physiotherapy goals and more, as it is less than a month post-surgery and she is up and about walking already.”
Odie was born with a condition called spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, which meant she couldn’t stand unsupported or walk without the aid of her walker.
David, Joan and their family and friends began the daunting task of raising €100,000 to cover the cost of the operation, therapy requirements, follow up treatments and travel to and from the US.
Now, the groundbreaking surgery she received in America means she has gained the use of her legs.
“She was a perfect candidate for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery, which involves the cutting of nerves in the spine which connect the brain to the muscles in the legs to permanently reduce the tightness and pain and allow for walking,” explains Joan.
“Odie is now free of spasticity in her legs and her feet have corrected, and she can walk with just the sticks.”
She now faces an intense regime of physio, including swimming and horse riding, both of which she loves.
“In her main assessment, they couldn’t see any reason why she shouldn’t be walking independently indoors and outdoors before long, and keeping up with all her friends,” adds her dad.
“We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated money and organised events and made a little girl and her family very happy.”
‘She is such a little trooper, and both surgeons are happy with the outcome’