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Team James Whatever It Takes

$118,092 of $150,000 goal
Given by 662 generous donors in one year

Ok People! James needs our help. $150,000 is needed to fund the life changing therapy and surgeries he needs by specialists in USA

Nationwide

James suffers from spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. He also has hydrocephalus and epilepsy. We're hoping to raise funds to help us get him as mobile and independent as possible (he is currently in a wheelchair and reliant on his parents for his every need). The therapy and surgeries that he ideally needs to help with his high spasticity (or high tone) is only available outside of New Zealand and we need your help to make this even possible! James suffered from a traumatic birth and spent the first day of his life being airlifted from Tauranga Hospital to Waikato Hospital. From there he spent the next few days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, fighting for his life. Fortunately he stabilised and was released from hospital after one week. James' parents thought they had dodged a bullet and James had just had a very rough start to life, however this was not to be. It became apparent that James wasn't doing the usual things a 6 week old baby should do, so they went back to their local GP who referred them back to the hospital Paediatrician. James ended up having an urgent MRI done on his brain, which confirmed he had hydrocephalus (water on the brain), and in two weeks the family found themselves up in Starship watching their 8 week baby go through brain surgery, to insert a shunt to relieve the pressure from his brain. Little James pulled through this and after a very challenging few months of life the family was hit with another blow. After a routine check-up at the hospital James' paediatrician dropped the bombshell that James was to be diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, meaning that there had been a brain injury he had suffered at birth, which was going to result in ongoing problems with motor skills. Unfortunately the family was not able to prove that James' case was an ACC injury, therefore other than the standard care available (limited to a visit from a physio once every 6 or so weeks) all other therapy costs had to be privately funded by James' family. Its been a tough road, and as James has got older his legs have got stiffer and he is now suffering from various contractures (permanent shortening of muscles or joints). This is despite the family relocating to Auckland for first 4 years of James' life and living with in-laws, trying to get James the best therapy available in New Zealand. Now we are forced to look further afield and the best care and surgery available for what James needs is in the States. But we need some help to get him there!!

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Latest update

The time is upon us....latest Sunlive article  19 September 2015

James’ big operation

Posted at 7:12am Saturday 19 Sep, 2015 | By Zoe Hunter zoe@thesun.co.nz

James Reid has an infectious smile. It's an ear-to-ear grin, exposing a mouthful of pearly whites, and his cheeks turn bright pink.

But it's a smile that mum Sonja will have to see from a computer screen as her five-year-old son receives life-changing surgery in New Jersey.

James Reid and his dad Don at James' favourite place, the beach. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

James has spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, epilepsy and hydrocephalus, a blockage to the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. This means James is unable to crawl or stand without support, and can only take assisted steps with great difficulty.

James and dad Don travelled to Overlook Hospital in New Jersey on Friday, where Dr Roy Nuzzo will perform surgery to help with James' contractures, or permanent shortening of the muscle and tendons.

“As you can imagine I'm a bundle of increasing nerves at the moment and I really can't grasp the concept of me not being there with James,” says Sonja. “But at the same time I know he will be in good hands with my husband, who's an amazing father and the best person for the job.

“I know it's going to be a huge adjustment for James' sister Lily not having her brother and father around for so long and we will be a bit lost back here, but I'm very thankful these days with modern technology we'll be able to keep in touch and see each other's faces almost every day via computer screen.”

The surgery will be followed by a few days of recovery before James receives about a week of intensive therapy in New York. He'll then fly to Croatia's capital city, Zagreb, for a further 10 weeks of therapy.

“With the intensive therapy following surgery it will allow his brain to make new connections and allow him the possibility of a greater range of movement,” says Sonja.

James will celebrate his sixth birthday in Croatia on November 30.

The family from Papamoa have been raising $150,000 for the surgery since last December.

Sonja says they haven't yet raised the full amount, but have enough to cover the surgery and therapy so far.

“Any other funds over and above this would go to as much post-operation therapy as possible in the next year or two. Basically, the more therapy we can do, the better James' chances are for greater movement following surgery.

“The success of surgery is largely dependent on the amount and quality of therapy that will follow so it is really hard to give an exact prediction of outcome.”

To donate, visit www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/TeamJames

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Latest donations

Abhi & Priya
Abhi & Priya on 23 Dec 2015
Good luck James, get well soon
$5
Amanda
Amanda on 17 Dec 2015
Best wishes for you and your family fighting hard for you!
$100
Ray
Ray on 25 Sep 2015
Private
Bill
Bill on 25 Sep 2015
Well done to the community for getting behind this!
$50
leonie
leonie on 24 Sep 2015
$30

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Created by Sonja Reid, paying to a verified bank account of James Reid
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This campaign started on 29 Nov 2014 and ended on 31 Dec 2015.