Families desperate to follow in Oliver’s footsteps
A national newspaper has highlighted the inspirational story of Coleraine boy Oliver Dickey and questioned why other families are desperate for the selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) operation yet it is only available for a very limited number on the NHS.
The Daily Mail reports that a ‘snip in the spine freed little Oliver from his wheelchair... so why are other families of cerebral palsy children forced to pay thousands for it - even though it’s on the NHS?”
The newspaper reports: “Doctors believe it will not help every child with cerebral palsy. And it can leave some with more problems than they had to start with.
“That is not enough to deter families rejected by the NHS from raising up to £60,000 to travel to a pioneering, world-renowned clinic in America to have the operation privately.”
Oliver’s mum Charlene says of her son: “He walked on his own for the first time in February. He can now stand beside his little brother Max and go to the playground with his friends.”
Read the story here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3231909/Snip-spine-freed-little-Oliver-wheelchair-families-cerebral-palsy-children-forced-pay-thousands-s-NHS.html