Almondbank cerebral palsy sufferer Jack McNaughton (3) could be just weeks away from taking his first steps.
Jack’s parents, Stacy and Graham, always dreamed of the “miracle” that would allow the three-year-old to live a normal life.
This year it seemed their prayers had been answered when they heard Jack was suitable for a procedure that could eliminate the problems within his nervous system.
The treatment, performed at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, USA, has a 100% success rate in under-fours. However, the operation comes with a £40,000 price tag.
Undeterred, his parents started a fund-raising effort, and this weekend the final push saw models strutting their stuff on the “Jack Walk.”
Jack and his parents are now set to fly to St Louis on November 12.
Since May, more than £60,000 has been raised to enable Stacy and Graham to pay for the operation, the aftercare and all their flights and accommodation. Following the surgery they face several more trips to St Louis with Jack for further treatment.
After months of hard work there was a celebratory atmosphere at this weekend’s fashion show, held in Perth’s Loft nightclub.
On Jack’s return from America, Stacy and Graham will have to take him to a therapy centre in Glasgow three days a week and he will have physiotherapy in Perth five days a week.
The operation, which will be carried out by renowned surgeon Thomas Sierra Park, will either reduce the spasticity in Jack’s body or completely eliminate it. Dr Park has more than 20 years experience and has carried out more than 2000 operations of this particular type.
“The operation has a 100% success rate in children like Jack aged between two and four,” Stacy said. “Only one such procedure takes place in the UK every six years and doctors open up the entire spinal area, meaning the child takes months to recover.
“However, Dr Park in the US will only make an inch-long incision, and Jack should be out of hospital within a week.”
Stacy talked of her gratitude for all of those who have helped in what has been a truly remarkable fund-raising effort. “We are just so grateful and overwhelmed by the support we have received,” she said.
“I cannot put into words how amazing it will be to give Jack the chance to live like any other wee boy. He is such a wonderful, happy, intelligent child and fully deserves it.”