Flixton five-year-old in US for life-changing operation

Manchester Claims

Cerebral Palsy Claims

The dream of being able to walk could become a reality for a brave five-year-old boy in the US for a life-changing operation.

Kieran Forde-Thain has a form of cerebral palsy and he is unable to walk independently.

In April this year, the Flixton Infants’ School pupil made a heartfelt appeal, through the Advertiser, to raise £60,000 for surgery he hopes will help him run with his friends.

This target was smashed in just two months thanks to our readers, his family and friends and the total raised currently stands at more than £88,000.

Kieran flew out to Missouri on Saturday with his parents Amanda Forde and Jonathan Thain and their partners.

The operation, which is not available on the NHS, was scheduled for yesterday (Tuesday) at the St Louis Children’s Hospital.

It hopefully will help him walk unaided as well as improve other symptoms of his condition.

Kieran is due to spend four weeks in America to receive physiotherapy after the operation and will be home on August 23.

Mum Amanda, 25, of Kingsway, Davyhulme, said before they flew out: "Kieran is really excited about it. We are trying to keep our nerves and apprehensions hidden from him. He understands he is going to have an operation and he will be in pain afterwards with a lot of work ahead of him but a five-year-old can only see so far forward.

"He knows it is not going to be a holiday but we are going to try and take him to the zoo on the Sunday before the surgery. After the operation, he will have to stay in hospital for about five days, and I will not be leaving his side.

"When he is off the painkillers, he will be able to stay in a hotel with us, but we will have to make daily trips to the hospital for physiotherapy. The charity Caudwell Children is supporting the Kieran to Walk campaign and is holding the money raised on behalf of the family."

Amanda added: "There is no doubt the treatment will make a massive difference to Kieran’s life, he should be able to put his foot flat on the floor.

"He really has to learn to walk, like a baby would do, and he will most likely still have to use his frame for a while. But he is a very strong-willed little boy and he will give it his best shot."

For more information log onto: www.kierantowalk.co.uk

source: menmedia.co.uk