UPDATE MAY 2016: Caitlin is amazing. The past two years have seen her blend into regular school life with ease thanks to SDR. No wheelchair, restrictive diet, no spine issues, no night pain, no cramps, no endless trips to orthopedic professionals, no x-rays. Just running, playing, dancing, horse riding, swimming and generally annoying her parents as any kid should! She is quite cheeky and outspoken (her mum might be able to verify the origins of this) and really does not let anything hold her back. We are still very, very grateful. Every day.

Now is the time for review back in the US with Dr TS Park and the St Louis Children's Hospital team. At 4, Caitlin was a borderline candidate for one of the variants of tendon/muscle lengthening/adjustment performed by Dr Dobbs at SLCH, that would help her gain further. This operation, less invasive than SDR, is now on and in July we are returning to Missouri for a review of Caitlin's progress and this operation for Caitlin. She will be in and out of hospital within 24 hours but will require casts and leg orthoses to help her legs heal well.

We thank you, the SLCH team and Tree of Hope for your support during this and the upcoming months.

JULY 2013: Caitlin, now 4, has Cerebral Palsy Spastic Diplegia. She is having pioneering neurosurgery at St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri to remove the spasticity which leads to deformities and loss of mobility as she grows. Post-operative physiotherapy is essential for successful outcome but not funded. The funds you are helping to raise will be pivotal in providing the lengthy post operative physiotherapy, equipment and orthoses that she will need.  Funds will also help meet the cost of accommodation near to the St Louis Children's hospital where Caitlin will have her initial four week's of daily physio.

Please help keep Caitlin on her feet