A LITTLE boy whose parents were once told he would never even be able to crawl, let alone walk, is looking ahead to a much brighter future - with an operation in America holding the potential to dramatically change his life.
Alexander Burland has already progressed way beyond what doctors first predicted when he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy soon after his premature birth in Athens, Greece, while his mum and dad Jayne and Christian were on holiday.
He can walk short distances with a frame, climb on and off chairs and use a pencil to write.
But in most areas of his life the adorable five-year-old is dependent on his parents because of the major difficulties he has with his posture and mobility.
Now Jayne and Christian have discovered a procedure on his spine which is only available in America that has the potential to drastically change his life.
The road to the operation is not set to be an easy one however, since the treatment comes with a £50,000 price tag.
The couple, from Hunters Bar, have been fundraising since Alexander was two to help cover costs not routinely available on the NHS.
It is thanks to this hard work - which has paid for a host of things including intensive physiotherapy courses and specialist equipment for the home - that Alexander has made the progress he has.
But they are determined for their little boy to have his chance, with a host of fundraising events organised to raise more cash for the trip to St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri.
Jayne, aged 39, said: "In every day life, all the little things that we take for granted, Alexander needs help with.
"He uses a wheelchair, he cannot stand by himself, and I have to help with almost everything he does.
"What this operation will do is reduce some of the spasticity and the tightness in his legs, in turn helping him to be able to move more easily.
"After the operation he'll be able to get his feet flat on the floor and they've predicted that he should be able to walk using crutches, whereas at the moment he's in his chair all the time apart from very short stretches with the frame.
"They've said he should be able to walk upstairs, he'll be able to get himself into his car seat, and walk over to the television.
All little things, but they'll be such a boost to his independence and his quality of life, especially as he gets older."
The procedure is called selective dorsal rhizotomy and involves cutting the overactive nerves located near to the spinal cord to reduce the spasticity.
He currently receives botox injections to help with the tightness in his legs, but they give only temporary relief unlike the permanent results he can expect from the operation - which his parents have been told has a 100 per cent success rate.
Jayne said any similar type of surgery offered in this country was "not in the same league" as the American counterpart, and even then it is very rare to be offered the treatment on the NHS.
And so that family have been throwing themselves into fundraising so full-time mum Jayne, builder Christian, and Alexander can head stateside for the life-changing operation.
In September Jayne and two of Alexander's teachers at Ecclesfield School - where he attends half of the week, spending the other half at Paces specialist school for youngsters with motor disorders - are taking part in a sky dive for the cause.
Christian is also in the process of planning a John O'Groats to Land's End charity bike to add even more pennies to the pot.
Jayne added: "It is a massive challenge but this is going to be an absolutely life-changing operation and we're determined that he's going to get it."
Visit
www.alexanderburland.com or search Facebook under 'Help Alexander Walk' to donate to the campaign. Alternatively call Jayne on 0114 2660577.
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