THE family of five-year-old Evie Harrington, who has cerebral palsy, hope to raise enough money for her to undergo a life changing operation in February but are currently under target by £21,000 and are hoping for the generosity of people to help in anyway they can.
Her family have a target of £50,000, in which they hope to raise for the Evie’s Dream fund.
Evie who lives in Llangynog was born 10 weeks prematurely and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was 20 months old. She is unable to sit, stand or walk unaided.
The day after Evie was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, her sister, Emilie was also diagnosed. However, Emilie can walk.
Evie’s mother, Donna Harrington says Evie is a happy-go-lucky girl.
“Evie takes it all in her stride, she’s a happy girl. She has never known anything else, she doesn’t let anything get in her way!”
Evie’s family are hoping to send her to America for her operation.
The operation is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), which reduces the spasticity in her legs, making the pain go away. It will help her with her mobility.
Prior to the operation, Evie will need to have the correct physiotherapy to get her legs strong enough.
Evie’s operation will take place at St Louis Childrens Hospital, which will be carried out by the world’s leading surgeon Dr T.S. Park, who has operated on more than 2,500 children, who suffer from cerebral palsy.
Following her operation, she will spend three weeks having an intensive physiotherapy course to build up the strength in her legs. This will be carried out when Evie is back home.
“A friend of Evie’s has recently had this operation and seeing her go through it makes us hopeful that Evie can do it too.
“We are desperate to push for that final £21,000 to change Evie’s life, anything anyone can do would be so brilliant,” said Donna.
A variety of fundraising efforts have been made over the last 12 months, such as bag packing, ladies nights, a Christmas fair, sponsored tattoos and sponsored walks, most recently being a sponsored walk up Snowden taking place last Saturday, December 1, in which Donna and her friends took part in.
For more information, visit www.eviesdream.org or to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/eviesdream