Eight-year-old Elvis Presley fan with cerebral palsy enjoys ‘absolutely fantastic’ holiday to home of his hero – Lancashire Telegraph

AN eight-year-old avid Elvis Presley fan with cerebral palsy was 'all shook up' after having a holiday at the home of his hero.

Blackburn's Samuel Hosker has been on an 'absolutely fantastic' weeklong trip to Graceland, the former home of Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee.

An anonymous businessman paid for the child and his parents to enjoy the trip, who heard about Samuel's love of Elvis after his parents set up a now completed campaign to raise 30,000 for surgery not available on the NHS.

The family even got to enjoy an extra day in America after a flight mix up meant they had an extra days stay paid for.

Mother Michelle Hosker, 39, said their stay at the Guest House Hotel, which was located on the Graceland Estate, was 'amazing' for all of them.

She said: "It was absolutely fantastic.

"Samuel absolutely loved every minute of it.

"He was singing along to all the songs.

"Memphis is just Elvis mad, there is Elvis everywhere.

"It was just perfect for Samuel, it was a dream come true."

More than 60,000 has been raised in total for Samuel, who will now undergo an operation in September which will prevent him being wheelchair bound.

That fund also included a donation from the mystery benefactor who paid for Samuel's trip of a life time.

Highlights of the holiday included taking a the Elvis Presley Tour, walking round his old mansion, signing his name on the at the site and visiting where he was buried.

They also got to see his old 'Lisa Marie Plane' and 'Hound Dog' jet on the trip.

The family also went on a tour of Memphis, which included trips to Elvis' home, the zoo, the famous BB King Blue Club and the site where Martin Luther King was shot.

Samuel also got the chance to visit Marlowe's Restaurant, which was adorned with a variety of music memorabilia, and he arrived in style in a pink Cadillac.

Another highlight of the trip for both parents and child was a trip to Beale Street, which featured venues full of soul and blues music.

The family said Samuel is already planning to go again.

Mrs Hosker said: "We keep thinking about how great it was, it is a bit of a comedown after.

"Samuel wants to go again in a few years and is asking if we can save up.

"We just can't thank the person enough for ending us there, words just aren't enough."

Samuel will be having his spinal dorsal rhizotomy surgery on September 21 at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool.

Following surgery, Samuel, a pupil at St Peters RC Primary School, will have to undergo two years of intensive physiotherapy.

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Eight-year-old Elvis Presley fan with cerebral palsy enjoys 'absolutely fantastic' holiday to home of his hero - Lancashire Telegraph