MEDIA: Little Girl Needs Life Changing Surgery

Amelia is a 5 year old girl who would love to dance, but she was born 9 weeks premature and has many complications as a result. She spent her first 9 weeks in hospital before she could be taken home, and suffered a brain injury that affects the mobility in the lower limbs.

At 6 months old she was diagnosed with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy. This means she has difficulty walking and standing unaided. This disability affects her lower limbs and gives her tight muscles which makes movement restricted. Pain and cramping affects her tremendously, and it makes it difficult for Amelia to dance like she wants to.

At 3 years of age Amelia had open heart surgery to repair an Atrial Septal defect (ASD) – a birth defect that causes a hole in the wall between the heart’s upper chamber, she also has Botox treatment injections in her legs every 4-5 months, which is not always affective.
Amelia’s family is raising funds for a life changing Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery in St Louis, USA so she can walk, dance, stand and run independently. Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery is a procedure that treats muscle spasticity caused by abnormal communication among the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. It also improves muscle stiffness. This surgical procedure, is the only procedure that provide reduction of spasticity in cerebral palsy.
In the last few years Amelia has had constant therapy of conductive education, physiotherapy, speech, occupational therapy and hydrotherapy. Her family and doctors have seen improvements but having surgery will make her independence easier.

Having created a mycause campaign, Amelia’s family hope to raise $100,000 for her SDR journey which will cover surgery, therapy, flights and accommodation to the United States for 6 weeks. Her parents are asking the community to help Amelia reach this life changing goal, and so far, the campaign has raised over $27,000.

You can read more of Amelia’s story at The Advertiser