Odds-defying boy Charlie Creaser recovering after major operation

Little Charlie Creaser from Low Downs Road, Hetton, suffers from cerebral palsy and struggles to walk, but has recently undergone calf-lengthening surgery on his legs at Sunderland Royal Hospital.

The gastrocnemius surgery took place to lengthen the six-year-old’s calves by stretching the muscles to help him walk.

Mum Michelle Creaser, 33, said the surgery was a success and Charlie is now recovering well at home.

She said: “As his legs are growing so fast, but his muscles are not stretching with it and the tension causes his spasticity.

“I imagine Charlie will have to have this operation quite a few times over the years, but so far his first one seems to have gone well.

“He was meant to be in hospital for five to seven days, but he was well enough to go home in just seven hours.

“Now he is in plaster casts which will be on for around six weeks.”

Earlier this year, he defied doctorss diagnosis that he would not be able to walk and took on the biggest challenge of his life, walking a mile along Majuba Road in Redcar, in aid of another battling boy, raising funds for Bradley Lowery’s vital cancer treatment.

He completed the distance in just 50 minutes to raise £1,610. Now his family hope the surgery will help him to be in the best shape possible for a major operation to help him walk independently.

Mrs Creaser added: “We are so proud of him. He is only six years old but has already had six operations.

“We are now looking for him to have the Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) operation to help him walk properly in the future.”

The surgery will decrease the tightness in his muscles and could mean with the help of intense physiotherapy, he will be able to walk unaided.
She added: “In February we have an appointment at Leeds General Infirmary to see if he is eligible and if he is we will start fundraising for that, as it is expected to cost over £30,000.”