Dylan's Path to Walk

Dylan Towey is the 4 year old son of my first cousin Ann Marie living in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, Ireland . Dylan was born twelve weeks premature in June 2011. At this time it was discovered that Dylan had suffered strokes before birth. He spent eleven weeks in hospital and had a difficult neonatal period – he had two serious infections and required seven blood transfusions. Unfortunately, Dylan’s premature birth combined with the strokes and the difficult neonatal period, left him with permanent damage. Dylan has a brain injury and at seventeen months of age, he was officially diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Despite all of the challenges Dylan has faced – he has achieved so much. He participates in physical and occupational therapy and his parents do an exercise program with him everyday. Through lots of hard work, Dylan has learnt to roll, crawl, sit and pull to stand. He can now walk short distances in a Kaye walker. The damage to Dylan’s brain affects the messages being sent to his muscles – particuraly in his legs. This causes Dylan’s legs to become extremely tight (spasticity) and as a direct result, he cannot stand or walk independently.

Dylan has been accepted for an operation known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) in St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, USA. The operation will reduce the spasticity in his legs and allow Dylan to learn how to stand and walk independently. To cover the costs of the operation and the intensive post operative rehab, a fundraising committee called ‘Dylan’s Path To Walk’ has been established. As well as the operation, Dylan will require physiotherapy on a daily basis and special equipment to help him achieve his dream of walking.

If you would be in a position to help Dylan in any way possible, we would be extremely grateful. You can find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/dylanspathtowalk or please contact us by email on dylanspathtowalk@gmail.com.