North Shore Times (New Zealand)
Fundraising for chance to walk unaided
If Kate Harpur had full use of her legs, she would play sport every Saturday.
Due to a medical misadventure at birth, however, Harpur suffered from cerebral palsy, and was usually forced to watch from the sidelines.
The 20-year-old, who worked at YMCA North Shore at Akoranga and lived in Orewa, was lucky to have full use of her arms, but struggled with weak and tight legs, and walked with a stick.
She’s had multiple surgeries on her achilles, hamstrings and abductor muscles, and frequently had physio and botox therapy to keep her moving.
But Harpur discovered a surgical procedure could change all that. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) involved cutting sensory nerve fibres that join the muscles to the spinal cord.
It was currently the only surgery that could permanently reduce spasticity in cerebral palsy patients and, if successful, would be a life-changing procedure.
‘‘I can’t imagine life without spasticity, but without it I will finally be able to do the impossible, the things I can’t do.’’
The surgery isn’t available in New Zealand, but in Australia, two patients a year are able to have the procedure.
For Harpur, whose cerebral palsy stems from medical misadventure, she feels more comfortable getting the procedure done with the most experienced team.
Dr T S Park from St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri is no stranger to the procedure, having helped around 3000 people with cerebral palsy.
Despite not having nearly enough funds for the surgery, Harpur has put herself on the waiting list, with her next possible opening in December.
The surgery alone costs $70,000 and there are other expenses too, but she wants to get it done sooner rather than later.
While trusting a doctor has been a big step for Harpur, the chance to feel and appear more ‘‘normal’’ is a risk worth taking.
‘‘I’ve spoken to adults who have had it done and they don’t regret having it done, but they do regret not getting it earlier,’’ she said.
Harpur had already raised about $30,000 toward her goal, including raising $5000 at a recent a comedy night. She was now looking at other fundraising options. To help, go to Givealittle.co.nz and search ‘‘Kate’s chance to walk unaided’’.