Family fundraising for girl's US op

Wednesday 6th June 2012

A family is trying to raise £55,000 to fund a three-year-old girl's life-changing operation in the US.

Molly Grove, who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, is unable to walk unaided due to a stiffness and pain in her legs.

But her family are hopeful that an operation called selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) will change her life and make it possible for her to run around with her two older brothers.

In the procedure, which takes place at St Louis Hospital, in Missouri, doctors cut some of the sensory nerve fibres that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord. The complicated procedure reduces the tightness in the muscles, making it easier for patients to increase strength with therapy and exercise.

Molly's dad Richard Grove said: "It's hard to explain how heartbreaking it is to see your bright, fun-loving, happy daughter in pain and frustrated. She has now got to the stage where she is asking why she can't walk, which is difficult to explain to a three-year-old. This operation will change Molly's life forever."

The Grove family, from Broadway, in Worcestershire, is being supported by Caudwell Children.

Trudi Beswick, the charity's chief executive officer, said: "Over the last two years we have helped more than 20 families fundraising to get this truly life-changing treatment for their children. We really believe in the difference the SDR treatment can make to a child's life and want to help in any way we can to get Molly the treatment she needs."

To support the appeal call Caudwell Children on 01782 600867 or donate online at http://www.justgiving.com/mollysmission2walk.

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