Crosskeys family raising cash so tot can take first steps (From South Wales Argus)
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Crosskeys family raising cash so tot can take first steps
9:20am Thursday 31st January 2013 in News
By Ruth Mansfield
FUNDING TARGET: Maisie Cooper at home with her parents Gareth and Hayley who are trying to raise £60,000 so she can undergo pioneering surgery in the United States
AT JUST two years old, little Maisie Cooper has already faced many challenges after being born premature and learning to live with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.
But now the youngsters’ parents Gareth and Hayley Cooper, of Crosskeys, have set themselves their own challenge – raising £60,000 so their daughter can undergo pioneering surgery in the United States to help her walk.
The life-changing operation would decrease the tightness Maisie currently suffers from in her muscles and could mean that with the help of intense physiotherapy, she will be able to walk unaided.
Born 11 weeks early on January 29, 2011, Maisie weighed just 2lbs 14oz at birth.
At the time Mrs Cooper thought she was having a miscarriage but, after being assessed at the Royal Gwent Hospital, she was told she was in labour and was two centimetres dilated.
But although medical staff tried to stop the labour, Maisie was born just 50 minutes later.
She then spent the next 11 weeks in the neonatal unit at the hospital battling problems including bleeding on her brain and problems with her heart.
But on April 17, Mr and Mrs Cooper finally received the news they had been waiting for when they were able to take their “miracle” daughter home for the first time.
Twelve months on though, after Mr and Mrs Cooper had become concerned about their daughter’s development, the youngsters’ consultant diagnosed Maisie with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy.
The condition means Maisie’s muscles tense up too much and she struggles with simple tasks such as sitting up and standing up.
But despite everything, the youngster continues to bring happiness to her family.
Mr Cooper said: “She’s a loving little girl and everyone who sees her falls in love with her.”
“The operation won’t be the be all and end all, but we need to give her a little bit of a chance by doing this.”
The family have already raised around £3,000 through donations and plan on holding events to continuing raising funds for the campaign.
The details of these will be put on www.stepstohope.co.uk
