Brave Jamie set for follow-up op to aid walking (From The Argus)

Worthing boy Jamie Colwell set for follow-up operation to aid walking

5:10pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter

A little boy with cerebral palsy is preparing to fly abroad for surgery that could help him walk properly.

Jamie Colwell had a pioneering operation 16 months ago that helped reduce the tightness and “spasticity” of his legs.

He was one of only 50 youngsters from the UK to undergo the operation, known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.

The surgery made it easier for the nine-year-old to get around and after months of physiotherapy he is now able to use sticks instead of a wheelchair and walk a short distance unaided.

However, Jamie, from Shelby Road, Worthing, now needs a second operation to lengthen his leg muscles and improve his mobility even more.

A fundraising campaign launched by his family in 2011 raised enough to cover the £23,000 cost of the original operation in Bristol.

There is also enough left to cover the costs of the flights to St Louis in the US and the £9,000 follow-up operation.

Keen to progress

His mum Gemma Chappell, 26, said: “We decided to go abroad because the surgeon over there has done this operation numerous times and that makes us feel more confident about its success.

“Jamie has done incredibly well over the last year but he and the rest of us are keen to get this next stage done so he can progress even more.

“He has been working so hard on his physiotherapy but not having the second operation has been delaying things a little.

“We are so grateful to everyone who has supported us and are delighted that we are finally at the point where we can go ahead.”

Jamie will be flying out at the end of the month and the operation is scheduled for April 2.

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