Let the lip sync battle for ‘O die to Walk’ commence!
LITTLE Odie O’Brien couldn’t wait to get back to Clever Clogs Pre-school last Tuesday to meet her friends, but her parents hope that when she starts ‘ big school’ next year, it’ll be without the use of her walking aid.
As highlighted in the Drogheda Independent last month, four-year-old Odie has a condition called spastic diplegic cerebral palsy which means she can’t stand unsupported or walk without the aid of her walker.
Her mum and dad Joan Devin O’Brien and David O’Brien from Highlands are currently trying to raise over €100,000, to fund groundbreaking surgery in America so may Odie may gain use of her legs.
Several smaller fundraising events have already been taking place which have raised over €7,000, but last week saw the launch of the first major event; ‘Magic Mike Lip Sync Battle for Odie’, which will take place in The Barbican Centre, Peter Street, Drogheda, on Friday September 21st at 8pm.
“We are so happy that Odie’s story seems to have touched so many people, and so many events have been taking place already” says Odie’s dad David.
“The Lip Sync battle is going to be a brilliant night though, and lots of family members have become involved, but also some people we have never even met, which is amazing.”
The huge two-hour show will see 55 dancers and singers divided into teams to battle it out on stage to raise funds for Odie.
And even though David and Joan will enjoy the entertainment as audience members, his mum is busy rehearsing for her starring slot!
“My mum Betty is taking part, and also my sister Leanne, so it really is a family affair,” he says with a laugh.
“I wanted the first rehearsal and it’s going to be amazing, so I’m hoping as many people as possible come along to enjoy the show.”
It no doubt will be an entertaining night; however, the goal is a serious amount of money.
Odie’s cerebral palsy is caused by a condition called periventricular leukomalacia, or an injury to the white matter of the brain, and this is linked to a heart condition that she was born with known as tricuspid valve dysplasia.
World-renowned neurosurgeon Dr. T.S. Park of St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, USA, considers her to be a 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.
To give Odie this chance, €100,000 is needed to cover the cost of the operation, therapy requirements, follow up treatments and travel to and from the US.
“Odie knows why all these events are being organised, and at first, she really didn’t want to go to America, and was a bit scared,” explains David. “But lately she’s been watching Youtube videos of toys which can only be bought in the States, and she is definitely coming around to the idea!”
At the moment, Odie’s balance is poor, and she needs assistance with getting to the toilet, moving around, playing, and dressing herself. The tightness in her legs can be very painful, and she’s wearing leg splints to keep her muscles stretched into normal positions during the day.
In time the tightness in Odie’s legs will increase, which means her pain may also increase, and she may lose the ability to use her walker and will need a wheelchair. “Joan and I are not going to give up on this, and we are becoming more confident of reaching our goal with the help of Nicola Bedford, Samantha Ryan and the generous people of Drogheda,” concluded David.
Tickets for the Magic Mike Lip Sync Battle for Odie are €20 and is an over 16s event.
Other events taking place this month include a speed-dating evening in Bru this Friday September 7th at 8pm, a Men vs Women Soccer Tournament on Sunday September 16th at the Boyne Rovers pitch between 2pm and 6pm and Rock and Roll Bingo in Mother Hughes pub on Friday September 28th at 8.30pm. Full details of all events are on facebook Odie Wants to Walk.