I am running 2 half marathons one of which I completed today to help raise money to get Emerson a Trike

Emerson’s family are raising funds for Emerson’s first trike that will allow him to ride a bicycle using his hands instead of his feet and for a LiteGait system that is a weight-bearing device to improve specific problem areas such as lower extremity strength, range of motion, and balance.

See his story below:

3 year old toddler Emerson Grant was such an energetic toddler running around, chasing bubbles, a football, a tennis racket or a rugby ball were never too far from his hands.

On 15th August 2016, life dramatically changed for Emerson and his family.

Emerson was diagnosed with an arachnoid cyst growing on his spine level C6/C7 which paralysed his tiny body from the chest down.

He had surgery to decompress the cyst but he remained paralysed unable to use his bowel and bladder independently and lower limbs paralysis.

Sadly in May 2017, Emerson suffered from a seizure and it was confirmed that the arachnoid cyst had returned. He had further life threatening open surgery to decompress the cyst.

August 2017 - Unfortunately the cyst returned for the 3rd time, but this time it’s too high risk to operate and too high risk to not operate.

The family now need to wait for neurological deterioration, which basically means Emerson will lose further function especially in his hands and arms.

Right now - Emerson has MRI scans to monitor the cyst every 3 months and his family wait patiently for any changes in his Mobilty functions.

When the time comes and it's critical - The surgery will be be more aggressive, more attentive, more precise, we know if he survives this next surgery it will cause more damage to his nervous system and mobility function.

His deterioration could happen in a few days, a few months but it will happen because the cyst is there growing - until that time Emersons family will need to make a plan and keep Emerson as fit and as healthy as possible, so he has the best chance of recovery.

A spinal cord injury comes with additional medical complications, Emerson is now at risk of low bone density, osteopenia, kyphosis and mild scoliosis. He also suffers from a life threatening condition called Autonomic Dyresflexia, if this is not managed it could lead to further seizures or a stroke.

Whilst the ever emerging cyst and the other health complications have held his family back over the past 23 months, they now need to ensure Emerson’s strength and progress is maintained, so that he has the best chance of recovery after and before his future surgeries.

Sadly, the support, treatment and equipment on the NHS is very limited if not non-existent for children with a spinal cord injury and the family have to rely on fundraising to get the support and care that Emerson needs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-Z3DQnrcQQ

http://www.facebook.com/emersongrant2014

www.emerson-grant.com