Bonnie's new legs!

Hi my name is Bonnie.

I was born 10 weeks early and spent my first few months in hospital. At 18 months I was diagnosed with a type of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia. This means the lower half of my body does not work very well. I have increased muscle tone in my lower half, and because of my stiff muscles I cannot stand or walk. I need a lot of help doing everyday things and this also causes me a lot of pain. My mum and Dad do exercises and stretches with me daily and as well as having my physiotherapist come, I do swimming to help my muscles relax. I wear splints everyday to help get my feet flat and keep my heels down. The good news is that my mum and dad have found out about a very special operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy that can help me walk and live an independent life. Mum told me that the doctors that will do my operation have done heaps of the same operation on other children like me and they have learned to walk. She said they will put me to sleep and cut something in the bottom of my spinal cord which will stop the pain and stiffness in my legs. I’m looking forward to it because mum and dad said I can go on a plane, and if I’m very brave I can get some lollies!

The only problem is that this special surgery is not available in New Zealand so we would have to travel to America to have it done. It is going to cost around 130000.00 for me to be able to have this life changing operation so this is where I need your help!

However mum and dad say they are going to get me there and do all they can to fundraise and get the money together to make my life better for me. My dream is to walk along side my two big sisters, and not be wheelchair bound, so please, please help make this possible for me....

Any donation is a good donation

xxx

Bonnie Lee Turpin

(Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is a neurosurgical operation on nerves entering the spinal cord. The aim of SDR is to improve gross motor functions. Particularly the ability to walk, by reducing muscle spasticity.)