Jade dreams to walk
Jade Beattie dreams of being able to walk and climb trees, but she needs life-changing surgery to treat her cerebral palsy.
The 7-year-old was selected for the procedure at St Louis Children’s Hospital in the United States. The treatment isn’t available in New Zealand and costs $125,000.
She suffers from a type of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia after being born prematurely, her mother Megan Beattie said.
Both her legs are really tight, and she struggles to walk, balance and control her movement.
She uses a walking frame for short distances and has a wheelchair for longer distances.
‘‘She’s just a typical 7-year-old girl, she’s just a pretty, girly girl who’s starting to get a little bit frustrated now because she’s at the age where she’s noticing that she is a little bit different,’’ Megan said.
She loves dancing but modifies it to dance on her hands and knees.
Jade’s growth spurts mean her muscles can’t keep up with the rate her bones are growing, creating deformities in her feet and legs.
‘‘If Jade doesn’t have the surgery, it’s inevitable probably within the next couple of years that she’ll be confined to a wheelchair full time,’’ Megan said.
‘‘The things she always says is that she wishes she could run and climb trees like the other kids at school,’’ Megan said.
‘‘The hardest part is watching her trying so hard and still not being able to quite get there, in terms of trying to keep up with other kids.’’
The Beattie family have started a Givealittle page to help them fundraise.
To help out go to givealittle.co.nz/cause/ jades dream to walk