A £28,000 funding gap stands in the way of a Perthshire girl’s dream to walk to school unaided.
Cerebral palsy sufferer Wiktoria Mucha (9) from Coupar Angus is scheduled to fly to the United States for “life-changing” surgery in less than seven weeks.
However, despite continued efforts by her family, friends and the community, she is less than a third of the way towards her £40,000 target.
Now, in a desperate attempt to turn things around, the primary five pupil has appealed to people across the region to help in any way they can.
Because of her age, doctors at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri where Almondbank toddler Jack McNaughton attended last year are keen that Wiktoria has the procedure as soon as possible.
As her muscles weaken and more pressure is put on her knees, hips and lower spine, the window of opportunity for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) will begin to close.
Her parents Tomasz (38) and Aneta (34) want to give her the chance to be like “every other little girl.”
The couple moved to Scotland from Poland when Wiktoria was four in the hope she would have access to better medical care.
Born more than 10 weeks early, she spent the first few months of her life in an incubator, but doctors did not know the full extent of her condition for more than a year.
Mr Mucha told The Courier, “This could be Wiktoria’s only chance at a normal life. She is a happy child who wants nothing more than to be able to walk with her friends and play in the garden with her little brother unaided.”
He added, “She knows it’s a major operation and that the months following it will be tough, but she’s determined to work as hard as it takes.
“We have received a lot of help from kind members of the local community but, as Coupar Angus and Blairgowrie are both fairly small, we need to look further if we are to reach the target in time.
“I know money is tight, but every little helps.”
Mr Mucha added that he recently heard from a member of the Polish community in Chicago who offered to find accommodation in Missouri for as little as $5 per night.
Coupar Angus Community Council chairwoman Ann Campbell set up a fund-raising group for Wiktoria’s campaign and urged anyone with an idea to come forward.
She said, “The family only heard about the operation in late February and they didn’t know that many people in the area so came to us for help. Wiktoria is well known and well liked in the town.”
She added, “She is a smart wee cookie too I was amazed when she acted as interpreter between myself and her grandmother.”
Perth and north Perthshire MP Pete Wishart will visit the family at their Kings Road home later today to lend his support.
For information on how to donate visit www.wiktoriafund.org or the Wiktoria Fund Facebook page.
People can also email wiktoriafund@gmail. com.