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ALITTLE boy from Bristol has been given the date for a lifechanging operation which will help him walk unaided for the first time.
Four year-old Oscar Cridge, who has cerebral palsy, will be heading to London in January for the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery (SDR) at the city’s Portland Hospital.
Football mad Oscar, from Longwell Green, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was three years old.
He suffers from tightness in his legs which means he cannot walk without the help of a special frame.
He also cannot sit down properly and suffers agonising cramps which disturbs his sleep.
Oscar is currently being given botox treatment in his legs to help him with his condition.
But this is only a temporary fix until he can have the surgery.
Dad Shaun said: “Oscar is currently being given botox to help him walk.
“He still needs his frame, but just can take a some unaided steps while he has the botox.”
The complex SDR operation will see Oscar’s nerves cut to loosen the tightness in his legs, allowing him to walk.
The operation, which will see him spend two days in intensive care, will also require years of intensive rehabilitation afterwards.
The surgery is not available on the NHS and is costing £35,000.
Oscar’s mum and dad, Shaun and Emma, launched a campaign to raise the money for the surgery which has been supported by fundraiser Darren ‘Daz’ Sims and the local community.
Daz held a number of fundraising initiatives and released a Christmas single, Put The Fairy on the Tree, to help raise the cash.
So far, more than £50,000 has been raised to cover the cost of the operation and some of the rehabilitation and physiotherapy costs, although further funds are needed.
“This will be a lifechanging operation for Oscar and for us as a family” said Shaun.
“It will enable Oscar to walk for the first time unaided.”
Oscar currently has splints on his legs and uses a walking frame to get around.
“The fundraising started around a year ago and without the amazing support we have received, we would have never got to this point,” said Shaun.
“We have enough money for the operation and to cover the first year of rehab.
“But as the rehab can take around two years we still have further money to find.
“It is going to be tough for us all as after the operation Oscar will have to learn to crawl and walk again,
“It’s going to be a long road ahead for us all.”
Oscar has just started frame football and has begun horseriding to help with his balance and upper core strength.
To make a donation to the fundraising appeal visit justgiving.com and search for Shaun Cridge.
Anyone who wants to follow Oscar’s story can do so at Oscar’s Journey to Independence on Facebook and Instagram.