Hucknall’s Oceans day nursery boosts Theo’s Wish to Walk appeal

Four year-old Theo Hunt attends Oceans of Fun day nursery and is the surviving twin born to mum Melissa but has Cerebral Palsy.

After initially being signed up for surgery on the NHS to help him walk without the aid of his frame, funding was cut and the life-changing operation and follow-on physiotherapy now has to be paid for privately at a cost of £50,000.

So in a bid to support the family and the fund, the Wood Lane nursery and play centre held a fun day recently and with further events hope to collect £1,000.

“Theo has been with us since he was one so we wanted to get involved in the fundraising,” said co-owner Julie Lock. “It was a great day and very well supported by our parents and visitors.”

Theo’s operation was meant to take place at Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, in March this year but at the 11th hour funding was pulled.

The surgery, called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), is high risk as it involves cutting nerves in the lower spine that are responsible for muscle rigidity. Its aim is to ease muscle spasticity and improve mobility.

“There’s only a few hospitals in this country that carry out the procedure, including Leeds and Great Ormond Street,” said Melissa of Underwood. “But a surgeon in America has been carrying out the surgery for 25 years and has 3,00o surgeries under his belt so it’s not an easy decision of where to have the operation once we have the money.

“But we are grateful to the nursery and all who are helping to boost our appeal and help us reach our fundraising target.”