Austin's Dream to Walk

Austin spends 95%of his time in a wheelchair each day. He is reliant on help & support with all the little tasks in life.

* Getting in & out of bed

* Toileting

* Showering

* Dressing

* Organising basic food

* Transportation & so much more we take for

granted in day to day life.

Austin was born on the 9th of May 2008 in Tauranga Hospital. After a traumatic birth he was rushed to Waikato Hospital where he spent the next few days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The first indication that Austin had an ongoing problem came through his lazy and cross eyes at 3 months old. After numerous GP and specialists appointments, his paediatrician organised an urgent MRI scan in January 2009.

The MRI scan revealed the full extent of Austin's problems...brain damage (the news no parent wants to hear of their darling wee boy).

The MRI scan revealed permanent brain damage with the following problem list:

1. Cerebral Palsy - asymmetric spastic quadriplegia (predominant triplegia).

2. Periventricular leukomalacia left >right.

3. Developmental delay.

4. Bilateral hypermetropia.

The Cerebral Palsy has resulted in secondary problems such as very poor motor skills and balance, tight achilles tendons and spasticity, tightness of the muscles and joints and much more. Austin attends private physio, riding for the disabled and one on one swimming lessons weekly.

Austin attends St Thomas More Catholic School where he is in year 2. He likes to read and is a fantastic speller. He has a teacher aid to help with chair transfers and daily school activities.

There is no operation or any procedures available in New Zealand to give Austin what he needs. There is however an operation available in the USA. The Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is done by Dr Park and his team at St Louis Children's Hospital in the USA. This operation will be life changing for Austin and give him a much better quality of life.

The catch is Austin needs $100,000 for this to become reality.... We need everyone's help to make this possible. Please share this page with your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours. Spread the word and make Austin's dream to walk come true.