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Ollie’s special birthday after £42,000 operation
Pictured at Home with Mum Rachel Tinsley , is 3 years ol Ollie Saxton who suffers from cerebral palsy , and the star readers have helped to raise �30,000. for an op in America .
BRAVE Sheffield boy Ollie Saxton has celebrated his fourth birthday in style - by being discharged from the American hospital where he has undergone life-changing surgery.
The little lad from Intake flew to St Louis, Missouri, for an operation that will hopefully help him walk for the first time.
Ollie, who has cerebral palsy, has had the four-hour operation and was discharged in time to celebrate his fourth birthday with pizza and ice cream.
His parents Rachel and Russell raised £42,000 to take Ollie to St Louis, with help from readers of The Star.
They will not know for a few weeks if the operation worked, but Rachel, speaking from Missouri, said the early signs looked good.
“We can see the difference already. Ollie’s feet are really relaxed and he has been up and walking with his hand held,” said Rachel, aged 33.
“He can sit on my lap properly. Before he was all scrunched up. We are really pleased.”
The operation involved cutting some nerves from his spine to reduce stiffness. But although it seems to have gone well, doctors have decided Ollie will need a further operation to lengthen his hamstrings, which will cost an additional $11,300 - around £7,000.
The second operation is scheduled for Tuesday and then it will be straight into physiotherapy to build Ollie’s muscles.
“We are going to have to hit the fundraising when we get back - we had some money for aftercare, but we have used that for the second operation,” said Rachel, also mum to Riegan, 10, and Evie, five.
“But everything has gone really well, and it was great to be out of hospital for Ollie’s birthday.
“We had a party with some of the other children being treated here.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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