Rutherglen girl Jess on her way to the USA for vital operation
Oct 17 2012
by Will Henshaw, Rutherglen Reformer
A FUND set up to pay for vital surgery for Rutherglen girl Jessica Penny has reached its £60,000 target in just seven months.
A £7000 donation from Rutherglen Rotary Club has given the five-year-olds parents Lynne and Colin the money they need to fund an operation in the United States.
It is hoped that the procedure will help Jessica, who suffers from cerebral palsy, to walk.
A cheque for £7000 - raised from a charity cycle/trek round the Isle of Cumbrae - was presented to Lynne and Colin at Kings Park Hotel last week.
Jessica suffered cerebral palsy after being starved of oxygen at birth. She also has speech difficulties and cannot walk unaided.
Her parents hope the operation, called selective dorsal rhizotomy, will aid her walking. The procedure was developed in the 1980s and involves cutting sensory nerves in the base of the spine to relieve muscle rigidity caused by cerebral palsy. Many people with cerebral palsy have muscle rigidity in their lower limbs, making walking and sitting difficult.
The procedure takes place at St Louis Childrens Hospital, Missouri.
It has been a long road since the Reformer published the first story about the Burnside family in April and Lynne cant quite believe theyve finally managed to raise the cash required.
She said: We would like to say thank you to everybody. Weve been so overwhelmed by the support. It has been amazing.
It seemed like such a big amount to raise, a massive task. Were just so grateful to everyone who got involved to help us.
She added: Hopefully by the end of the month we can get a date. We do know, however, that it will be happening in January.
After the operation the Cairns Primary pupil will spend five weeks in the US undergoing intensive physical therapy, which will continue when she gets back to the UK.
Lynne added: Were obviously nervous, although Ive faith in Dr Park. Ive talked to people who have been there and done it. It is a serious operation and there are risks involved but hes got a 100 per cent success rate.
Were just getting her used to the fact that shes going to be going in to hospital. Its not a quick fix. Theres intensive physical therapy after the operation.
The family already do physical therapy in Perth each Sunday, where Jessica does a two-hour gym session. Since they have reached their target for the surgery, they now hope to continue raising money for Jessicas physical therapy.
Their next event will be Jessicas Ball on November 3 at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow. For tickets call Alan on 0783483888 or email Alan_robertson4@hotmail.com. Donate to Jessica at www.justgiving.com/everypenny.
