Vanessas chance to walk unassisted

Vanessa is 6 years old. She was born prematurely, 10 weeks too soon. While staying in the NICU (the neonatal intensive care unit) in Winnipeg Vaness had grade 1 Intraventricular Hemorrhaging on both sides of the brain, which resulted in mild brain damage and caused Celebral Palsy, Spastic Diplegia GMFCS level lll. It means Vanessa can not stand without support and is tiring very easily because of the spasticity in her lower body.

In summer 2020, Vanessa was referred for assessment to neurosurgery in Winnipeg. The goal was to find out if she qualifies for SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy), which is a surgery on the nerves in the spinal cord, followed by a very intense rehabilitation. As a result of the surgery, the spasticity should be eliminated, which would give Vanessa a real chance of walking unassisted.

Due to covid, the program in Winnipeg does not exist anymore, and Vanessa never got an appointment. After being referred and rejected to at least 4 other provinces, Vanessa was finally accepted in BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver. Vanessa traveled with mom to Vancouver for assessment in December 2023, and she is a perfect candidate for the surgery with very good chances to improve her mobility.

The SDR surgery is scheduled for April 30th, 2024, and rehabilitation for the first 5 months is organized. Vanessa and mom will travel to Vancouver for 7 weeks for surgery and inpatient rehabilitation. After returning to Manitoba at the end of June 2024, Vanessa will still require physiotherapy 3 times a week, once a week in Winnipeg and twice a week local.

To accomondate Vanessa's surgery, inpatient rehabilitation, and follow-up rehabilitation, mom will have to take unpaid leave from full-time job for at least 2 months and will return only part-time for additional 3 months. The family will have additional costs to accomondare the living in Vancouver for Vanessa and mom. This will be a huge financial burden for the family to handle.

Maybe we can add that if any funds are unused, the money will go towards Vanessa future medical needs.

Vanessa lives with mom, dad, and two teenage brothers in Reinfeld Manitoba.