Georgina's Journey to walk unaided

Our twins, Georgina and Olivia,were born in Christchurch at 25 weeks and had a literally shaky start to life, as they were born 13 hours before the February 2011 earthquake. But we have always considered ourselves so very lucky, because they survived all their set backs  and we were able to bring them both home five months after their birth.

But the journey did not stop there. Because of a brain bleed following her birth, Georgina was diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia. The spasticity in her legs is reduced through medication and 6 monthly botox injections, however, this is not a long-term solution. Already the spasticity has caused Georgina’s hips to become deformed and she will need to undergo hip reconstruction in a few years’ time.

Georgina has had to work hard to do the things we take for granted, like walking, eating and talking and as she has gotten older the gap between her sister and friends has been widening. So, we began to ask what other treatments were available to her, which was when we were told about a specialist spinal surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy. After looking into it we found out that Georgina is a very good candidate for the surgery.

Performed at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, they will permanently cut the highly spastic nerves in her spine, leaving the good ones intact. A week later she will have orthopedic surgery to lengthen the tendons in her legs. Together, these surgeries will allow Georgina to learn to walk properly, run, jump and dance because the spasticity in her legs will be permanently reduced. She has such determination to participate to the fullest in her life, she loves to sing and dance and won’t be left out of anything her sister or friends are doing. This surgery will give her that chance. One outcome we have been told to expect is her ability to walk independently in all environments, which will mean no walker or wheelchair.

Because this surgery is not funded we need to raise the $100,000 needed for the surgery, but we are determined to get Georgie there and give her the best chance of reaching her full potential.