A NORTHSIDE teenager has launched an appeal to raise €100,000 for surgery in the United States.
When Courtney Manning, from Coolock, was born 10 weeks premature she was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.
“I couldn’t walk until I was three but with the help of my mam and her determination, I finally took my first steps,” Courtney, now aged 18, told Northside People.
“For years I’ve never had any operations, Botox injections or splints. However, in 2013, I started having problems with the Achilles tendons in my right foot.
“In September 2014 I had my first round of Botox injections into my calf, and my right foot was put into a cast. This failed to solve the problem and as a result I had to undergo surgery.”
In March 2016, Courtney had her first major operation when her right Achilles’ tendons was lengthened.
“The operation did its job but unfortunately it has given me lots of complications,” she said.
“Since the operation my condition has worsened and I can see my mobility decreasing. This has caused me a lot of pain daily and sleepless nights. I spend most nights crying with the pain and have muscle spasms.
“At a recent appointment with my doctors I was told the spasticity (tightness) is taking over my legs so I need to get this surgery done as soon as possible. It’s a struggle to walk longer than six minutes.”
On December 23 Courtney learned she has been accepted for surgery at the St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri.
“When I’m in St Louis I will be having two operations – selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) and an operation to lengthen my heel chords and hamstrings, known as PERCS.
“My rehab is going to be hard but I can’t wait to be able to do what any other teenager can do but most importantly I will be pain-free.“
Courtney, who attends the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) in Clontarf, believes her quality of life will improve greatly after she has the surgery in the US.
In February 2016 she had to give up playing Gaelic football for one of the girls’ teams at Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock, and up until five years ago she was also a member of Rising Stars, a local dance group, but had to give that up too due to her condition.
“It would be great to be like all my friends getting to wear high heels on a night out, back playing GAA and back dancing,” said Courtney.
“I’ve had to stop both of my hobbies over my cerebral palsy. I’m upset that I can’t do what all my friends are doing.”
Earlier this month, Courtney, the youngest of three children, launched an appeal to raise the funds needed for her surgery.
“I have raised €2,000 already,” she said.
“People will be running marathons, there will be a benefit night and a lot of other events in the area to try and raise the money.”
Courtney said that hearing she was accepted for the surgery in the US later this year was the best Christmas present ever.
“There will be no stopping me now,” she added. “I’m very determined to raise the money.”
For more updates on Courtney’s story and how you can help, see CourtneysCerebralPalsyWish on Facebook
