Esme Clark was born at 29.5 weeks, has Cerebral Palsy and she took her first steps at age 3 and a half following a 4 hour operation called Selective Dorsal Rhyzotomy or SDR.

She is now aged 4 and a half and has just started primary school. The impact of Cerebral Palsy for Esme following her operation means she can only walk short distances with her walking frame.

In Summer 2012, with the help of The Tree of Hope, her parents took Esme to St Louis, Missouri where she underwent the 4 hour operation called SDR. Esme had this treatment in the USA because the surgeon performing it, Dr Park, is recognised as the world leader and the operation is not widely performed in the UK currently. Post operatively Esme has an intense programme of physio therapy which is delivered daily by her parents, carers and private physio's. In addition Esme visits a child and SDR specialist strength and conditioning coach in Scotland every 3 to 4 months.

 

Besides time and hard work this treatment also costs a lot and the money raised will be used to fund Esme's physio programme that provides her with two sessions per week with her physio. In addition the money will contribute towards her next trip to Scotland to see her strength coach at the end of the year.

 

Looking to the future Dr Park believes Esme will walk unaided which will be great, but between now and then we have a lot of physio and support to give Esme to give her the best chance of achieving this goal.

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page & if you would like to help Esme & her parents realise her dream to walk unaided please donate anything, it all helps.

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