This is Lucas John. He is from Sandbach, Cheshire and is 2 years old. After a very traumatic birth at only 27 weeks gestation he and his twin brother were born on the 23rd December 2016. Lucas was born weighing 2lb 8oz and was starved of oxygen for a short length of time. This led to a diagnosis of Cystic Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) at 2 weeks old we were made aware that our child would be disabled and unlikely to be able to walk.

Lucas was given an official diagnosis of Spastic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy at the age of 11 months. His twin brother Max soon started hitting milestones of rolling, sitting, standing and walking all the while Lucas watching on unable to do so.

Lucas is a suitable candidate to have an operation at the age of 3 called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). This operation is not available to Lucas on the NHS as he has Grade 4 Cerebral Palsy.

Currently due to Lucas's extreme tightness in his legs he takes muscle relaxers to help. While he is doing this it is relaxing his stronger parts of his body which is hindering his progress at learning to sit up and hold his head up straight. Lucas would be able to stop this medication if he had the SDR operation and the Spasticity in his legs would go, therefore his upper body can get stronger and he can live a more comfortable life without his legs being stretched out tight in pain.

The operation at Alder Hey costs £17,000 and will take approximately 4 hours and will require a stay of 3 weeks in hospital. Lucas will then require intense private physio for a number of years to make the most out of the operation for him.

This is a life changing operation for our boy. Please give what you can.

Thank you