Hi Everyone,

We are creating this page on behalf of our son. Eddie was born eight weeks early and was transferred to the NICU, where he spent the first three weeks of his life. He was ventilated due to underdeveloped lungs and required a blood transfusion during this time as he was suffering from sepsis. Unfortunately, due to these traumatic experiences, he was left with brain damage, which caused cerebral palsy.

Eddie has spastic diplegia, which affects the muscle control and coordination in his legs and arms, making them stiff and contracted, leaving him unable to walk and causing pain. As he grows, the muscles will get tighter, making exercise even more painful for him. Even now, the pain can wake him up at night, leading to disturbed sleep.

Eddie has recently had an appointment at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). SDR is a surgical procedure that involves dividing and cutting some of the nerves in the spinal cord that contribute to spasticity in the lower limbs. The operation will improve Eddie's mobility and quality of life. However, this is not available to Eddie through NHS funding, as he cannot walk and does not meet the criteria.

A very sociable and happy little boy, Eddie has lots of friends and wants to be able to interact with them on the same level. He currently uses a walking frame and loves riding his bike, but can't stay in them for long due to the tightness in his legs. This operation should help expand Eddie's world and allow him to ride his bike and play with his cousins and friends at their level.

We need to raise £20,000 for the operation and aftercare. Please help us raise this money and give Eddie the chance to have this operation.

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds or surplus funds, the funds will be used, if appropriate, to support our child's needs in accordance with Tree of Hope's charitable objects. If, in those circumstances, we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope's charitable objectives, any funds that cannot be used will be transferred for general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.