Alexander Titmus

Alex's London Marathon: Big Steps for Sienna

Fundraising for Just4Children
£1,897
raised of £1,500 target
Donations cannot currently be made to this page
Event: London Marathon 2021, on 3 October 2021
Big Steps for Sienna
Campaign by Just4Children (RCN 1164473)
Just4Children are fundraising for SDR surgery so that Sienna will have improved independence, mobility and quality of life.

Story

Sienna is aged 5 from Newport in Wales.


Sienna and her twin sister Lyla were born 12 weeks prematurely weighing just 2lbs 4oz and 1lbs 11oz. When Sienna was 5 days old she suffered a devastating brain injury due to prematurity resulting in her having Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, which affects all four of her limbs.


Sienna has had a rough ride with her health and is often hospitalised with respiratory infections requiring complex medical care.


Sienna is growing increasingly conscious of her limitations and often gets upset that she is unable to run around with her twin sister and friends. She is fully dependent on family and her one to one in school to meet her mobility needs, including the use of her feeding tube. Sienna loves driving around in her power wheelchair that she calls Winnie, but ultimately our dream is for her to be able to walk more independently using her walking frame.


Sienna is always battling against spasticity (stiffness) which limits her mobility and often causes painful spasms resulting in many sleepless nights.


There is life changing operation called SDR surgery (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) which would remove the stiffness from her legs. This would give Sienna the opportunity to be more mobile and live with less pain. The surgery involves cutting the sensory nerve fibres in the spinal cord which sends incorrect signals from her brain to her muscles. This surgery would give Sienna more control over her body and would prevent future problems caused from spasticity such as repeated surgeries and significant pain.


Unfortunately due to Sienna's high level of Cerebral Palsy the operation is not funded on the NHS, despite it being of benefit to many children of a similar level.

Sienna has been accepted at the Great Portland Hospital in London for SDR and needs to fundraise the £70,000 for the surgery and resultant therapy to give her a more independent and happier future.


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About the campaign

Just4Children are fundraising for SDR surgery so that Sienna will have improved independence, mobility and quality of life.

About the charity

Just4Children

Verified by JustGiving

RCN 1164473
Just4Children is passionate about the relief of sickness & preservation of good physical & mental health of children & young people under 25 years resident in the United Kingdom & Ireland by providing & assisting in the provision of services & grants to enable them to obtain their medical needs.

Donation summary

Total raised
£1,896.69
+ £401.60 Gift Aid
Online donations
£1,896.69
Offline donations
£0.00

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