Story
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hello, my name is Tom I am 9 years old and I live in Caerphilly, South Wales. I really need your help for my dream to come true.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a baby my mum and dad didn’t know there was anything wrong with me. It wasn't until I reached 17 months of age and I still wasn’t walking that they took me to the doctors. They were then given the news that I had a condition called Cerebral Palsy (CP).</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have a type of CP called Spastic Diplegia which mainly affects my legs. This means that my legs are very tight and I have to walk on my toes. Also, when I try and walk with my walking frame my legs cross over. I manage to walk short distances with my frame but I get very tired. because of this and the pain I get in my legs I have to use my wheelchair.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">All I want is to be like my friends. I don’t want to sit and watch them play I want to be involved and join in the fun.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">My mum and dad have worked hard over the years to try and reduce the tightness (spasticity) in my legs.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">They have been researching a pioneering operation that will change my life forever. This is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). The operation involves cutting some sensory nerves in my spine which will then reduce the tightness in my legs, allowing my to have flat feet and give me the chance to learn to walk.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">Along with this operation and some intensive physiotherapy I’m hoping my dream will come true.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would be very very grateful if you could help me by donating here today. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-size: small;"> THANK YOU</span></span></p>