Rudy is a happy, brave, and kind 3-year-old who has spastic diplegia. We are fundraising to support the intense rehabilitation he will need before and after a potentially life-changing spinal surgery. The Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy Surgery (SDR) will help him walk more easily, safely, and without pain.

Rudy was born via emergency C-section at 42 weeks (he was just too comfy!). He was a very smiley, happy, chunky little man who met all his milestones. It wasn’t until he started walking that we noticed he was struggling. He couldn’t walk without holding onto someone, and he couldn’t walk with his feet flat. During the pandemic, and during our second pregnancy with his baby brother Asa, we attended a physiotherapy assessment clinic. Here, we found that the tiptoe walking was because Rudy had cerebral palsy. An MRI later confirmed that, during pregnancy, Rudy had a lack of oxygen to his brain, causing periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), one of the most common causes of cerebral palsy.

It’s been a whirlwind year since his diagnosis. Rudy has adapted amazingly to everything this diagnosis has thrown at him. He wears AFO splints every day to maintain his range of movement in his ankles, and the medication he takes three times a day helps relax the tone in his tight muscles. He also conducts daily physio and has had Botox injections to help relax the muscles in his calves. He now uses a walker to keep up with his friends, ultimately making him steadier and safer while walking.

He has been exceptionally fortunate to be accepted for a potentially life-changing spinal surgery. This involves making an incision in the spine, moving a bone, and then finding the nerves that send signals to Rudy’s legs, causing the spasticity. 66-75% of these nerves are then cut permanently. After the surgery comes the hard part: Rudy will have to learn to walk again and coordinate his legs without the spasticity. This process is not quick and will require intense rehabilitation for at least two years after the surgery.

Although the NHS funds some increased therapy for a short period after the operation, it is nowhere near what he needs to get the best results, which is at least 3 hours of therapy per week. We can only do this by privately funding his rehabilitation. This is where we need your support. Rudy wants to walk up the stairs on his own, to walk without pain, and to walk while holding his brother's hand. All of this is possible with the rehabilitation he so deserves.

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, then the funds will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objects. If in those circumstances we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives, then any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.