Little boy needs €60,000 for US operation

THE family of a little Southside boy who suffers from cerebral palsy are trying to raise

?¬60,000 to send their son to the US for an operation, which doctors say should enable him to walk independently for the first time.

Alex Hoban (2), from Firhouse, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy just before his first birthday. This means he cannot sit, stand or walk independently and has considerable difficulty with balance and coordination.

He currently attends Enable Ireland in Sandymount three to four times a week where he receives physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and hydrotherapy to help alleviate his condition.

But his family received the welcome news at Christmas that his application to undergo ground breaking surgery called dorsal rhizotomy at Saint Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, USA has been accepted.

His mother, Olwyn Hoban, said doctors in the US had told her that Alex was a highly suitable candidate for the surgery, and that he should be able to walk independently following the procedure.

“They are saying to me that after he has this operation and the intensive after care therapy he should be able to walk like everybody else,

? she said.

“That is mind-blowing, overwhelming. Initially when he was diagnosed my world was crushed. You initially think about the future and how he is going to miss out on so many golden opportunities like riding a bike and playing on a football team; things that other children take for granted every day.

?

As the surgery is not funded by the HSE and Alex’s operation has been scheduled for November this year, his parents are currently trying to raise the

?¬60,000 needed to pay for the procedure.

Olwyn said Alex now hopes follow in his big sister Isabel’s footsteps by attending St Colmcille’s National School in Knocklyon in two years’ time.

“Every day he says to me mammy I want to walk, mammy I want to walk. It is heart wrenching. How do you explain to a child of that age that they can’t walk,

? Olwyn stated.

“We have tried to explain that there is a little bit of a problem with his legs but that we are going to get him over to America where the doctors can help him to walk so he can play with the other children.

?

The family has organised a pub quiz in Scholar’s Pub in Firhouse on February 22 at 8pm.

On April 28 a sponsored 10km run and a five km family walk will take place in Marlay Park at 11am.

Anyone who wants to take part in the fundraising events can email footstepsforalex@gmail.com

To find out more about Alex or to donate money to his fundraising effort log on to www.footstepsforalex.com