Zack takes a giant step towards brighter future
A BEAMING little boy has worn slippers for the first time in his life after an incredible operation changed his future.
Zack Fielding-Smith, four, has cerebral palsy and used to have such severe stiffness in his limbs that he would fall over up to 20 times a day.
The youngster had only ever been able to wear specially-made medical footwear, and if his condition had continued to deteriorate, he could have ended up in a wheelchair.
But now, Zack is facing an entirely different future after undergoing major surgery to cut some of the faulty sensory nerve fibres from his muscles.
The operation, which is no longer available on the NHS, was only possible thanks to the generosity of people in Zack’s hometown of Heywood.
Countless people rallied round to raise tens of thousands of pounds to send him to St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri in the US over the summer.
Since then Zack has done so well that his mum Andrea is confident doctors will say he no longer needs to wear his ankle supports when he has a check up later this month.
The surgery has straightened out his feet and over Christmas he got to wear slippers for the first time ever, while Andrea has bought Zack his first ever pair of boots.
Zack also used to wear patches to help him dribble less, but the surgery helped his facial muscles so much that he no longer needs them.
He can also now push his arms through his clothes, something he couldn’t do before.
Zack’s teachers at Newlands School in Middleton have also noticed a huge difference in him.
Andrea added: “He’s been joining in more with his classmates and it was beautiful to watch. Before, he used to just play separately from the other kids but now he’s forming friendships.
“He’s come on leaps and bounds. It’s taken away the spasticity in his muscles. He’ll never need a wheelchair now. It’s just been amazing. “We’re just really, really chuffed. “His talking has come on so much, he’s saying mummy all the time now. He doesn’t have to concentrate on his legs all the time, so he can concentrate on other things.
“I couldn’t have done this without everybody who helped. It wouldn’t have happened with the support of the people of Heywood.”