!!! Please click on PRE OP / POST OP DIARY for updates - photos & Videos of Harley now that we are in St Louis !!!

About Harley Hesford

Hi my name is Harley Hesford and I am 8 years old and have cerebral palsy. I was born 14 weeks premature and was very lucky to have survived my first night. I proved my mum & dad and the doctors all wrong and pulled through and after spending 3 months in hospital I was allowed home. I am a very bright and happy boy and the only thing that stops me enjoying normal life properly is my legs and the fact that I cannot walk unaided, I use a K walker frame to get about as you can see in my photo above. Recently my dad heard about St Louis Children's Hospital in America and there amazing team who perform SDR. My dad will tell you about this now. SDR is a surgical procedure that is Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, the operation has a really good success rate and we have been advised by the surgeon in America that Harley's walking will improve a lot and within 12 months he will be walking independently without the need for a K walker frame. Dr Park who performs this surgery has performed over 2,500 SDR operations and has a fantastic success rate. I have included a page above, SDR, that explains what Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy is and the benefits if you wish to read. For us to help Harley we need to fund raise to give Harley this amazing life changing operation that will change his life and his walking for the future, we are aiming to raise £40,000 to cover the operation costs, flights to America and accomodation while we are there. Harley will need to be in America at the St Louis Children hospital for 4 weeks, the first week will include his consultation with Dr Park and his team followed by the SDR operation and Orthopedic surgery on his lower legs, after this Harley will receive 3 weeks of intensive physiotherapy and checks before we can return home. Dr Park has not put a time scale on when Harley has to have the operation, its just down to when we have the funds to book and go. Any extra money raised will go towards the intense physiotherapy he is going to need on our return from St Louis Hospital. We have included some videos of Harley on the video page if you would like to view, you can also get in touch on the contacts page and we have also included a total raised thermometer on the donation page so that all the people who kindly donate to give Harley this life changing chance for a better and brighter future can keep an eye on how much we raise. You will also find Harley's Guestbook page were you can view and leave comments. Thank you for taking your time to visit Harley's website and reading his story.

Since the site went live on the 14th September 2011

Target is £40,000