Menu
 
Home | News | Operation to change boy’s life costs £25k
 
News | 16th February 2021
 

Operation to change boy’s life costs £25k

Joshua turned down in Scotland but Liverpool hospital steps in

 
 
 

HE IS always “smiling and cracking jokes” but faces daily treatment and pain as a child with cerebral palsy.

Joshua Graham, seven, of Canonbie, who attends the primary school, is now raising funds for a crucial operation at a Liverpool hospital.

Joshua lives with his parents, Michelle and ? and sister, Edith.

The online fundraising is through Just4Childen and the life-changing operation Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR)  will help with his independence and mobility.

The operation costs £21,000 and Joshua’s target is £25,000 to help with post-operative treatment and equipment. So far, he has raised £18,358.

He was born two months early, weighing only 3lb 14oz.

Aged one, he was sent for an MRI scan because he wasn’t reaching milestones.

This revealed he had cerebral palsy and, as time went on, we learnt this type was diplegic, affecting Joshua’s legs.

“Joshua has a love of life and is always smiling and cracking jokes.

“Physiotherapy and stretching are daily in his life. He goes through such a lot from early morning stretches and muscle strengthening exercises before school and all repeated during the day.

“Occasionally, Joshua can wake in the night distressed and upset with extremely painful cramp in his leg muscles. This is awful for us all.”

The surgery reduces spasticity in the lower limbs and is effective in treating spasticity by cutting the nerve rootlets in the spinal canal which are sending abnormal signals to the muscles.

SDR is intended to improve quality of life and/or mobility in children affected by it.”

Michelle said: “It has been a long process in getting to this stage, starting when Joshua was only two.

“Unfortunately, after many tests, assessments and meetings over the years, it was decided that Joshua did not fit the strict criteria for SDR in Scotland.

“We didn’t let that stop us and we went for a second opinion at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital where they told us it was a no brainer and would perform the life-changing operation on Joshua.

“But, because we live in Scotland, we don’t qualify under NHS England’s criteria and must fund the operation ourselves.

“Further funds would be used for the important post-operative period, of which a minimum of two years’ intense physio is needed.

“Joshua may need specialist equipment in the coming years, too.

We believe SDR would give Joshua the best quality of life possible.”

Just4Children is passionate about the relief of sickness and preservation of good physical and mental health in children and young people aged under 25 who live in the UK and Ireland.

For more details about Joshua’s fundraising go to https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/JoshuasSDRJourney

 
 
Would you like to support us?

The Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser is our community owned local newspaper and even in today’s troubled times, we aim to bring you local news and articles in an impartial, responsible and factual way.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this free article but we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent and keeps you up to date with what is happening in Eskdale and Liddesdale.

Every reader’s contribution, however big or small, is so valuable to us.
 
 
‘Owned by the Community...Published for the Community’
Do you have a story?

Please get in touch if you have a story or article you would like to see published.

Related Articles

‘Is our voice even heard?’

NHS Dumfries and Galloway executives attend first of hopefully many…

 

Road safety concerns at Langholm Primary school

Concerned parents have produced a detailed report on the alarming…

 

High heid yins head for Thomas Hope meeting

Meeting with Health and Social Care to thrash out Langholm’s…

 

Having a final say on the future of Holm Hill

Newcastleton and District Community Trust is just about to carry…

 

Love, a dance and a right good belly laugh!

With a large cast and great audiences, LAODS’ Last Tango…

 

Share in windfarm leadsto green awards nomination

Nick Jennings’ foresight puts Eskdalemuir in the running The Upper…

 

Langholm Alliance: Update on Community Plan

Donna Hislop, Community Enterprise Manager, brings us up to speed…

 

Musical excellence delights Canonbie audience

Splendid concert brings church’s 200 year celebrations to a close…

 

Langholm Moor Lynx fears are calmed... for the moment

Fears that the new owners of former farmland on Langholm…

 

Oxygen Man links lynx to Langholm Moor

Blackburn & Hartsgarth owner says it’s a possibility Could former…

 

Post Office's future discussed at meeting

Canonbie residents gather to hear the options for valuable village…

 

Scottish call-up forathlete sisters

Langholm siblings make the Scottish Pentathlon team SCOTTISH CALL UP…

 

Langholm familiarisation visit for Council leader

Gail Macgregor, leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council was invited…

 

Further afforestation fury

Tree planting nightmare for a further three farms surrounding Claygate…

 

Moderator inspires worshipers at Canonbie

Church is packed to hear uplifting service from church leader…

 

Urgent action required in face of diminished services

1,000+ signature petition endorses demands Langholm’s ailing health services are…

 

Public meeting on future of Canonbie Post Office

Following the news that Canonbie Post Office and shop were…

 

Rothbury 'Looks North' to Langholm for guidance

The team at BBC look North got in touch with…

 

High profile minister to visit Canonbie

Anthony Lane tells of perfect ending to Church’s bi-centenary events…

 

Appeal for help with gardens

Margaret Pool writes; A number of folk will recall that…

 

Langholm Flood Scheme dead in the water

Plug pulled on original £10 million defences In last week’s…

 

A celebration of some amazing achievements

Langholm Academy pupils shine with some spectacular exam results and…

 

Old Copshaw hostlery closes its doors

One of Newcastleton’s longest-established businesses has closed down. The Liddesdale…

 

Xcel is eighteen!

This week marks 18 years of the Xcel Project! The…

 

Conan has Carolina on his mind

Langholm athlete settled on Charleston SouthernUniversity having had seventy offers…

 

Doing the Wright thing for Sycamore Gap

Amazing offer by Canonbie Sawmill owners Canonbie sawmill owners Steve…

 

Ultra-cool Ullswater adventures

Langholm S6 pupils enjoy a week of outdoor antics and…

 

Umbrella walkers raise over £30k

Rotary and Trusts-backed fundraiser breaks another record The Langholm Rotary…

 

Loreburn remains 'wholly committed' to Murtholm

E&L interviews housing association chief executive Kirsteen McGinn The E&L…

 

Had by Haddington

Slow start for Langholm gives home side the advantage but…

 

The 171st Langholm Show

The day of the 171st Langholm Show dawned and Langholm…

 

Sensational new sensory room for Langholm Youth project

Xcel has provided one of the best publicly accessible sensory…

 

Langholm Forum contacts Holyrood

Warbla petition prompts invitation to Gougeon Following an excellent response…

 

It’s been all go on Langholm Showfield this week.

A veritable army of willing volunteers and committee members has…

 

All our rugby yesteryears

A great afternoon at Hawick and Wilton Cricket Club on…

 

Cammy Barnes LOVES Langholm x

Last Friday, The Buccleuch Centre opened it’s doors to welcome…

 

Indefinite delay for Murtholm development

Loreburn announce moratorium on new-builds But promise Langholm project is…

 

Flat roof problems for Langholm's Primary school

Wet rot and

From no RAAC one week to wet rot and water…

 

Erskine Church saga reaches the airwaves

Denise Irving-Lang to be interviewed by Radio Scotland It’s encouraging…

 

Cheers! Langholm's Beer Festival hailed a huge success

Joint venture by Buccleuch Centre and Borderlands Brewery goes down…

 
 
requires mailchimp logins and wired up to a list
Join our mailing list
Keep up to date with all that’s going on at the E&L
This site uses cookies.
Configure
 
Read our privacy policy

This site uses cookies for marketing, personalisation, and analysis purposes. You can opt out of this at any time or view our full privacy policy for more information.