US surgery gives Ollie a life-changing chance

US surgery: Ollie Lanham, 2, with his mother Angela Patch and brother Elliot, 6. Photo: Matt Bedford

Ollie Lanham grins and giggles as he chases his older siblings Elliott and Millie around the garden of their Hughes home, using his walker to steady his uncertain steps.

The two-year-old has cerebral palsy and has only taken four completely unaided steps on his own.

Ollie will soon have surgery in the United States, which his parents, Angela Patch and Mark Lanham, hope will give him the chance to run, walk and even ride a bike on his own.

Ollie Lanham, 2, with his parents Mark Lanham and Angela Patch and brother Elliot, 6. Photo: Matt Bedford

He will have the procedure, known as selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), at St Louis Children's Hospital, Missouri, in December.

Advertisement

The operation has been shown to permanently reduce spasticity in children with cerebral palsy, improving their sitting, balance and mobility.

Ollie's cerebral palsy was due to congenital cytomegalovirus, which also left him profoundly deaf in his left ear.

His mum said he frequently has to travel to Sydney for treatment and has botox injections into his legs and hips to reduce his spasticity and help him to move with a walker.

View post:
US surgery gives Ollie a life-changing chance