WHERE THERE’S A WILL ...
A GOLD Coast mother has two weeks to raise $40,000 to stop her young son from losing his leg.
Aimee Dickinson needs $185,000 so three-year-old William can have specialist surgery in the US before his fourth birthday. William has congenital pseudarthrosis, a rare disorder that affects the development of bones in his legs. “It’s hard because I have to make the call if we can afford it all by the end of the month,” said Ms Dickinson, who has raised most of the money.
A GOLD Coast mum has just two weeks to raise $40,000 to stop her son losing his leg.
William Dickinson has congenital pseudarthrosis, a rare disorder that affects the development of bones in his legs.
At just three and a half, William is rapidly approaching the cut-off age for the specialist surgery in the United States doctors believe will save his leg.
The surgery will take seven to nine hours, will cost $169,000 and has a 99 per cent success rate.
In the past seven months, single mum-of-two, Aimee Dickinson, has rallied in the community to raise $101,000.
A coming charity lunch is expected to raise $40,000 and a gala ball at the end of the month, she hopes can raise another $40,000.
“Our flights were donated, we have accommodation booked, the surgery booked and travel insurance sorted, we just need the last lot of money,” she said.
“It’s hard because I have to make the call if we can afford it all by the end of the month.
“The operation needs to be done while he is still under four, before his bones develop too much.”
William underwent two surgeries before he was three, both with a 20 per cent chance of success.
“I just couldn’t put him through that again ... these
surgeries in the US have a much higher success rate ... there are young kids who were like William who are walking pain free now,” Ms Dickinson said.
“He can walk at times, but then he’s in so much pain he won’t for three weeks.
“It’s like walking on a broken leg ... he’s a gentle soul, and a happy kid, but lately he is starting to notice he is different and that breaks my heart.
“It takes a toll on his young sister, who is only two, I worry she gets neglected in all this, but the clock is ticking on William’s operation.
“We hope by the time he turns four, in June, he will be well on the way to being a normal little boy, climbing, playing ... unstoppable.”
Ms Dickinson said she had cut back on a lot the past seven months.
“No family outings, and no coffees at cafes ... it’s been Aldi coffee and just the necessities for us,” she said.
Dr Dror Paley, of the Paley Institution, has performed more than 20,000 surgeries of this kind and is renowned in his field.
A gala night will be held at The Club at Parkwood Village on February 24. Tickets are $130 and include entertainment, raffles, cocktail food, a four-hour drink package and guest speakers.
IT’S LIKE WALKING ON A BROKEN LEG ... HE IS STARTING TO NOTICE HE IS DIFFERENT AND THAT BREAKS MY HEART AIMEE DICKINSON