Louie is the son of one of the personal trainers at David Lloyd (Woking) Nick Skinner who is a terrific friend, a great guy and an amazing father. Louie & Nick have such an amazing bond and I have been touched by this story, hence taking on the challenge to assist with raising considerable funds for a considerable cause … Louie suffers from Cerebral Palsy and requires Life Changing surgery and with Cerebral Palsy the earlier the better, so time is of the essence and the quicker funds can be raised the better.

The Story so far …

Louie was born 8 weeks prematurely on 26^th of July 2012, weighing 4lbs 4oz. After spending his first 3 weeks in SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) Nick and Lucy were allowed to take their bouncing baby boy home.  

For the first 2 months everything seemed perfect. Louie was a happy healthy baby boy but began to experience severe reflux after his feeds. During his 4 month check-up the Pediatrician noticed Louie had increased muscle tone in his lower limbs (stiffness in his legs), and a tendency to arch his back when displaying emotion. Alongside this, Louie wasn't reaching his developmental milestones, however, this is quite a common finding in premature babies, so everyone remained positive. 

At 18 months old, the worst news was confirmed for Louie when an MRI scan confirmed the diagnosed of Cerebral Palsy.
Louie had suffered a type of brain damage called PVL (Periventricular Leukomalacia) before, during or just after birth. As a result of this, the pathways from brain to muscle were disrupted and this affects his balance and the mobility in both his legs and his left arm. 

Sadly there is no cure for Cerebral Palsy - but there is hope.  Louie is now 2 years old and is an adventurous determined little boy, desperate to be on his feet. He would love to be able to join in and play with all his friends.
In order to give Louie his best chance in life, he requires surgery called SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy). This will permanently reduce the stiffness in his legs, enabling him to walk independently. SDR is not a cure by any means, but is a huge step on the road towards independence. 
Early intervention is key with Cerebral Palsy so the aim is to get Louie to America for surgery between 3-4 years old.

SDR Surgery costs £80,000 so I have a target of 10% so £8000 in an effort to assist Louie. So this is where you come in, in the near future I will be running some exciting and fun events plus doing some crazy things, like running a half marathon all in the name of charity and would appreciate any sponsorship or charitable donations.

The funds raised will also go towards acquiring the equipment that will help Louie's progress, for his intensive physiotherapy program, pre and post-surgery, to ensure he gets the best results after the operation. 
Should the target amount not be reached or if they cannot be used for any other reason the funds raised will go to the general funds of Tree of Hope to assist other sick children.

Thank you for reading Louie's story, for your interest, and for your support.

Narelle