Little Jack McNaughton was lost for words when he discovered none other than Mickey Mouse would help him celebrate the anniversary of the operation that changed his life.
His mother Stacy (25) revealed that the usually chatty youngster fell silent when she and husband Graham (32) broke the news they would all be travelling to Disneyland Paris in November.
The four-year-old’s cuddly Mickey toy was by his bedside during the surgery in the United States last year and he had always dreamed of “meeting him in the fur.”
Now, thanks to a surprise donation from charity Family Fund, his wish has been granted. The trip has also inspired the determined tot to try to move from his specialised walker on to a pair of crutches.
Jack, who suffers from cerebral palsy, faced the prospect of life in a wheelchair before he travelled to the world renowned St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) at a cost of more than £40,000.
Previously unable to wiggle his toes, he can now whizz around the house with the help of the walker and enjoys playing games with his pals at Luncarty Nursery. He will also be able to start mainstream primary school with his classmates, something his parents had worried might not be possible.
Stacy said, “This will be the best family holiday we’ve ever had. We have little spare cash so the chance of us getting away on a holiday was pretty slim.
“I contacted the charity after Christmas to see if they could help but I just thought I’d not been successful when I didn’t hear back and forgot about it. It was a great surprise when I got the phone call out of the blue.
“I phoned Graham straight after and we both said, it has to be Disney, as Jack just loves Mickey Mouse.
“He has worked so hard since the operation, and shown maturity way beyond his years he really deserves this.”
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“When we told him he went silent and a huge smile spread across his face. He then made his way up the stairs and said he was away to pack his suitcase … he’s so excited.”
She continued, “He is a different little boy since the op and every month he goes from strength to strength. Before he was in so much pain and had little confidence but now he has great posture, moves around comfortably and chats away to everyone.”
Thanks to ongoing fund-raising within the Perthshire community, Jack has also been able to attend the Footsteps treatment centre in Oxfordshire, which Stacy describes as a “remarkable place.”
The centre’s pioneering Spider treatment has helped build up his core and leg muscles and he will return for further treatment next year.
The family are hoping to step up fund-raising again to raise the cash needed to fly Jack back to see surgeon Dr T. S. Park in Missouri next year, where he may need to have an operation on his hamstrings.
Graeme is also looking for adrenaline junkies to take part in a sponsored bungee jump near Killiecrankie.
Stacy added, “Without the kind people of Perthshire, who came up with amazing ways to raise cash, Jack would be living quite a different life just now and we cant thank them enough.
“The community is still fully behind Jack and we know with their help we’ll get the remaining money we need.”
Commenting on the news that Carnoustie twins Ayley and Chloe Hirsch have passed their fund-raising total and are now counting down until their operation, Stacy said, “They are such beautiful wee girls and I cant wait for them to be at the stage Jack’s at now.
“I speak to their mum Averil regularly. It’s great to chat to someone who understands.”