Can you help battling Charlie Creaser walk unaided?

The six-year-old from Hetton suffers with quadriplegic cerebral palsy affecting all four limbs.

Despite his young age, the brave little boy has already underwent numerous operations to help his condition and his family believed he would one day need to undergo a procedure called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) to walk unaided.

But following an appointment at Leeds General Infirmary to see if he was eligible, his family was told he will not require surgery which works to reduce spasticity in his legs.

Mum Michelle, who is married to Charlie’s dad Martin, said: “We were told that there wasn’t a lot of spasticity in his legs because of previous operations he has had.
“If Charlie had the operation his legs would be just as supple as they are now, so they don’t recommend it.

“Instead they said he would benefit from a structured physio programme which would be more like personal training that would help Charlie to build up strength.”

Despite coming as a surprise to his parents, it is good news for little Charlie, who defied doctor’s predictions that he may not ever walk after being born with the condition.

The surgery in the UK would have cost his parents £30,000 and double that amount if he had to have it in the US.

Charlie currently uses a walking frame and has undergone calf-lengthening surgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital in a bid to lengthen his calves by stretching the muscles.

The success of these operations now means the family are faced with the prosect of finding an individual who could help provide training and physio to meet his needs and help him walk.

Further surgery is also needed to address the difference in the length of his legs, as he has one longer than the other.

Michelle, 34, said: “It shows that the other operations have been working well and when we went down they said they couldn’t believe how far he had come on his own.
“But he needs to build up strength in his core.
“We think that we may need to fundraise for such a trainer and ask that if anyone knows anybody who could provide the training Charlie needs, to please get in touch.”

If you could help, email: [email protected]