This appeal sucessfully raised funds for Kaitlan Rogers to visit Kennedy Kreigger Institute part of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore USA.  The Institute is the only specialist centres in the world for deals with her condition Transverse Myelitis on a daily basis.  Kaitlan received the most comprehensive assessment the family has received.  Kaitlan underwent two intensive weeks of  specialist therapy treatments not available to Kaitlan in the UK.  Kaitlan after 6 days of therapy was able to take steps in the hydrotherapy pool the 1st in some 9 years.  The Institute gave Kaitlan a programme to follow at home to continue with her therapy.  The money raised by everyone for Kaitlan was able to fund the trip to America and in addition was able to purchase an FES bike like the one used at the institute to stimulate her bodies own recovery.   Kaitlan continues to visit a neuro physio therapist in London privately as often as possible and after much requests from the family to the local Primary Care Trust for specialist input they continue to show no interest in helping.........  We will endeavour to do all we can to make sure Kaitlan's window of opportunity is maximised until she is fully grown.

Kaitlan's story......  She was born normal.  An early walker at just under 9 months old and like most children was into everything.  One night just after her 1st Birthday, within a couple of hours Kaitlan was struck down with a one in a billion condition called Transverse Myelitis.  A condition that affects the spinal cord leaving her paralysed from the chin down unable to move her legs and arms only her head.  It has been a long hard frustrating 9 years since that night in December 2000 when it seemed the world came tumbling down on our family overnight.  Kaitlan is still in recovery today making improvements that doctors thought would never happen and today still cannot believe she has.  Kaitlan's recovery over the years has given her back her arms, hands and upper body but she still remains paralysed from the waist down requiring a wheelchair full time. 

Thanks for supporting us all the way!

Mags & Chris, Kaitlan's Mom & Dad

 

 

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