Toddler With Cerebral Palsy Takes His First Steps After Life-Changing Operation

Sebastian Brokenshire-Dyke (left) and his twin Solomon

Wednesday 30 December marks ten weeks since Seb had SDR surgery in St Louis. Seb is now able to stand unaided for forty seconds.

"The other day he put his leg on the table during dinner - perhaps not appropriate but this was completely beyond comprehension before surgery," his family wrote on Facebook.

"Beyond all these physical achievements, our family is finally experiencing a sense of calm and simple joy.

"We no longer worry about the effects of spasticity on his growing body. We no longer fear for his future.

"We are confident he has the same opportunities ahead of him as his twin brother.

"We can relax and enjoy our family time and watch both of our sons enjoy the craziness of their toddler years. Seb is finally, finally, toddling!"

The family are asking people to sign a petition to make SDR available on the NHS. For more information on Seb and his family, visit their Facebook page.

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Mums Speak Out About Lack Of Cerebral Palsy Research

(01 of06)

"My daughter has cerebral palsy. Despite the happiness she exudes, Maya openly shares her frustrations about her daily challenges with us. She wants to use the bathroom by herself, brush her own hair, dress herself, drink from an open cup, sit on the floor without falling. Recently she shared with us that someday she hopes to walk even if just for part of the day. She is eager to help herself make these advances. Unfortunately, the current therapy protocols will not help her meet many of her goals. None of the current available treatments for CP are estimated to provide more than an average 4 to 10 percent gain for the individual, per Iona Novak, Head of Research at CP Alliance Australia. In Maya’s lifetime, parents of kids with CP as well as adults with CP should have the opportunity to choose therapies or interventions that will provide meaningful change in mobility and quality of life."—Michele Shusterman, CP Daily Living; mom to Maya, 6, who has cerebral palsy (credit:Michele Shusterman)

(02 of06)

“These days, a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is pretty much like having the medical community shrug their shoulders. They know what it is, and can alleviate some of the symptoms, but there's definitely an attitude of 'There's nothing we can do.' My son is smart and sassy, but his body just won't comply. If he makes even a small gain in therapy, he uses it to the best of his advantage. Imagine what he could do if if we were able to actually improve his condition.”—Katy Monnot of Bird on the Street; mom to Charlie, 6, who has cerebral palsy (credit:Katy Monnot)

(03 of06)

"Last year, my daughter participated in the Preemie Growth Project, which was about replenishing minerals necessary for a healthy brain. The research looked promising based on the results of the children participating in the study. The woman behind the project tried relentlessly to get the attention of medical professionals and researchers, yet even with the results, nobody seemed willing to listen. Eventually we stopped participating for a couple of reasons: the cost, and the lack of support from professionals. And the project was working; slowly we saw our daughter with cerebral palsy improve, as if her body was "waking up." Just a few days ago my daughter was described as a "superstar" by her team at Mayo clinic. She is determined to walk, to move, to live! But what a difference it would make if someone was willing to fund research, to give her a try outside of putting her under the knife to lengthen one more muscle."—Ellen Stumbo of These Broken Vases; mom to Nina, 7, who has cerebral palsy (credit:Ellen Stumbo)

(04 of06)

"The current surge in autism research is heartening; I'm grateful so many people want to help autistic people like my son Leo. But we have to remember that all kids with disabilities deserve that same attention, deserve that same research funding, deserve to live the best lives possible."—Shannon Des Roches Rosa of Thinking Person's Guide to Autism and Squidalicious; mom to Leo, 12, who has autism (credit:Shannon Des Roches Rosa)

(05 of06)

"It's disappointing to see so little interest in researching the causes and possible treatments for cerebral palsy. Most of the available treatments focus on the symptoms, but orthopedic procedures can't fix circuits that are misfiring in the brain. I'm a former electric power engineer, and I know that propping up a pole won't get the power back on if the wire is lying on the ground! Discovering what makes the brain work and how to help it repair itself has implications way beyond the cerebral palsy community, as well."—Andi Sligh of Bringing the Sunshine; mom to Sarah Kate, 10, who has cerebral palsy (credit:Andi Sligh)

(06 of06)

"With an adult who has a stroke, say, it's easy to imagine the function they had and the function they could have again with proper treatment and care. But with a child, it's much easier to brush it off as: 'They were born that way, so that's the way they'll always be.' Parents of kids with CP have very little time and money to address this issue on a national scale. Instead, many of us are paying thousands, if not tens of thousands, every year to do what medical science refuses to: find treatments that work."—Shasta Kearns Moore of Outrageous Fortune; mom to Malachi, 3, who has cerebral palsy (credit:Shasta Kearns Moore)

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