Surgery could change little Ella’s life

The three year old daughter of a South Galway woman – diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy a few months after birth – has one shot at living life without a wheelchair. But her family needs €150,000 to make her dream come true.

Ella Doyle is a bright little three year old who loves dancing, singing and stories – and while she can now get around with a walking frame, as her illness progresses she will require a wheelchair for mobility.

BY JIM HYNES

That’s unless she can undergo a life changing operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, a complex spinal surgery that involves cutting some of the damaged sensory nerve fibres that are causing the spasticity.

It is the only procedure that will permanently reduce or eliminate spasticity in the legs – but unfortunately it is not available in Ireland.

That’s why Ella’s mum Nicola Dervan – originally from Killimor – and dad Simon from Arklow have appealed to their old communities to help raise the €150,000 to pay for the life-changing surgery in the US.

“Ella is happy, bright, mischievous, inquisitive and full of life. She loves dancing, singing and story time. Ella adores her little sister Millie who is one and a half and has to follow all of Ella’s orders.

“Ella attends playschool and gets so excited when she hears it is a playschool day as it means lots of fun and games with her friends. Ella loves to get involved with all of the games but sadly she is currently unable to fully participate due to her mobility,” says Nicola.

Ella was born on December 10 2012 in the Coombe Hospital in Dublin – but as the months passed her parents noticed she was not moving as you would expect a baby to move. After a number of appointments in the Coombe Hospital, Ella was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy.

Ella’s cerebral palsy causes tightness – or spasticity – in her legs, which negatively affects her balance, coordination and muscle strength making simple tasks in life such as crawling, cruising and even sitting harder.

And Nicola explains that Ella currently is unable to stand or walk independently.

“Ella has been attending therapy in Enable Ireland ever since her diagnosis and amazes us every day with her determination, courage and love of life.

“Ella wears orthotics on her legs, walks with a ‘Kaye’ walking frame and participates whole-heartedly in daily physiotherapy.  However, spasticity over time causes shortening of muscles and tendons, joint contractures and bone deformities.

“Therefore a future of Botox, leg casting and orthopaedic surgical procedures is ahead of Ella to try and prevent these complications. Ultimately however, Ella will require a wheelchair in the future.

“Ella has now been presented with an amazing opportunity of undergoing a life changing operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.

“This life-changing procedure will be carried out in the world-renowned St. Louis children’s hospital in Missouri.

“Dr. Park is an amazing neurosurgeon who has performed over 3,000 SDR procedures on children with cerebral palsy from all over the world.

“The results of this surgery together with two years post-operative intensive physiotherapy in children like Ella are breath-taking – children who  had been told they would never walk are walking, running and jumping,” says Nicola.

To achieve Ella’s Wish to Walk, they are relying on the goodness of people to donate and help this dream become a reality by raising €150,000.

The money fundraised will go towards the surgery, post-operative intensive physiotherapy programme and the equipment Ella requires to facilitate this programme.

Nicola’s own friends and family in Killimor have organized a Cake Sale this Sunday – and the proceeds from a Tug of War in Portumna in two weeks will also go towards her fund.

See Ella’s website for news on her progress.