Hello everyone, I couldn't update my previous Just Giving page to reflect my current medical situation so I have decided to update using this one.

My Name is Laura. I am 41 years old, and I have a disability called Cerebral Palsy (spastic dipligia ) This is as a result of being born 9 weeks early and suffering from a lack of oxygen at birth. My Cerebral Palsy mainly effects my lower limbs which means I have been a wheelchair user all of my life.

The majority of NHS Services regarding my disability stopped shortly after turning 16 and I was left with no help at all. Cerebral Palsy isn't described as a progressive disability but it does worsen with age causing deterioration and tightness because of the spasticity ( muscle tightness and spasms) Cerebral Palsy causes.

I was at a loss at what t do and was slowly losing all the abilities I fought so hard to achieve. Things were becoming so bad that I had lost the ability to even transfer by myself. I fought to get back in the system and in 2010 I was successful in having my hip abductors released. No-one really knew what the outcome would be but I was at a stage where no matter how small the improvement was I had to try and grab it.

Improvements were there to see but I didn't get any NHS physio following it. Thanks to the help of family and friends fundraising I was lucky enough to be able to attend a clinic in Manchester and continue and try my very best to progress.

It might sound like a strange thing to say and for you to read, but I read an article in a magazine about an operation that can help reduce and eliminate the spasticity that causes the spasms and stiffness that effects movement. The operation was called SDR (selective dorsal Rhizotomy.) Spinal surgery where nerves causing the spasticity are cut or severed to allow more natural movements to develop when the spasticity is reduced or removed. From what I was reading this operation was mainly offered to children privately funded and carried out in America. I still wanted to find out more. so I began to research it and apart from me being an adult everything seamed to fit. I researched for roughly 2 years, and then something was telling me It was was the right thing to do. Whilst doing my research I was informed that a very small number of adults has the surgery in Liverpool. I managed to make contact with the hospital, my private physio supported my decision and wrote a letter of support too. After a lot of red tape the appointments, conversations and assessment process began - it was by no means a quick process. MRI scans, physio assessment, Movement tests and me demonstrating my commitment to it. The operation was granted. It was always against the odds and I couldn't believe it was real - The chance of a lifetime for sure.

On 6th October 2014 my SDR surgery took place. At the time I was one of the oldest people to have SDR carried out at a UK hospital, aged 34 ( there are older people now) - I couldn't believe it. I don't think I believed it was going to happen until I was taken to the operating theatre. I even woke up after, saying to my mum and dad have they really done it!! - I got my miracle that day! The difference was obvious and after recovering I slowly began to regain some of the abilities I had lost prior such as transferring. I still didn't get any NHS physio at all following this so once again it was down to us.

Progress was made but due to a lifetime of stiffness more intervention in the form of orthopedic surgery was needed. Nine months after my SDR surgery (July 2015) I had hamstring lengthening for both legs, and achilles tendon lengthening on one leg. This was done in a hospital that was more local to us. The following year (2016) I had achilles tendon lengthening in my other leg as well as a tendon graft and transfer. In July 2017 I also had surgery to my right foot. As before NHS physio was lacking, but therapies continued with the help of others and each surgery brought good improvements which I am very grateful for.

In late 2019 I had a setback with my right leg and lost a lot of movement I could just about stand on it in parallel bars but after all my hard work my right leg wouldn't move to step. I was understandably upset by this, but continued to try and work on it in a hope it would come back. Movement improved for periods of time and then went again which was very disheartening. MRI Scans were carried out but with lock down and delays a definitive cause has not been found as of yet.

I've continued to work on things as much as I can and the movement is now returning which is fantastic!! Lockdown has been tough, as I'm sure it has been for everyone. Appointments were cancelled or delayed so thigs came to a bit of a halt. Fundraising became close to impossible apart from raffles which I have a licence to be able to carry out.

I have also been doing Feldenkrais Therapy which works on natural gentle movements and patterns. This has been going well.

Most recently I have received medical Botox muscle injections back in Liverpool in my calf and toes. This was successful enough the first time that it has now been done twice. I believe this has had a positive impact on my right leg and the movement returning.

Although the surgeries i've had were NHS funded, very little. to no physio, and any therapies or equipment to back it up, and make the operations a success has been.

Therapy and physio sessions are between £70 and £95 per session. Roughly £500 per month. We also try and help others under Laura's Wish. I am NOT a fully registered charity as I couldn't guarantee I could raise the minimum £5,000 a year required. Instead we are a fundraising society with Licences etc to allow us to carry out fundraising raffles etc..

Thank you for all of your support so far. I know my journey has been a long one, and it most likely will be for some time yet. I don't expect miracles. I think I think I got my miracle the day I got my SDR surgery. I just want the chance to try and grab, and continue to achieve some of the little things other people take for granted everyday such as take steps on the beach how amazing would that be? and you could play a part in that and help make it a reality. The minimum donation is just £2. If you can help - please do.

Thank you in advance for any help received. Laura xxx