Andrew's Top 10

Andrew learning to play the drums.

Andrew and I have been having discussions about the things he wants to do when he learns to walk. He came up with a list of 10 things he would like to do when he learns to walk that he simply cannot do now. These things are activities that most kids take for granted. This kid can't wait to try them.

Andrew's Top 10

1. Be in a marching band.
2. Go on a hike without being carried.
3. Play soccer without his wheelchair.
4. Play basketball with his friends.
5. Take a gymnastics class.
6. Walk into the school without a walker. 
7. Ride an escalator by himself.
8. Go to Disneyworld without his walker or wheelchair.
9. Walk to the park near our house by himself.
10. Learn to ride a 2-wheeler bike.

"Hiking" with his sister on a well cleared, flat trail. He wants to try real hiking someday.

THIS is what we are trying to achieve. THIS is why we chose (with Andrew's input) to do this surgery. THIS is why he is in physical therapy 5 days a week. He wants to be able to walk into a school with his friends and not have to worry about a walker or wheelchair or what the other kids think of those devices. He wants to go to Disneyworld and have the freedom to walk from ride to ride without being carried... to ride rides independently without being questioned about his ability to do so (something any 7 year old typical child has the privelege of being able to do). He wants to go on a hike without having the embarrassment of being in a hiking backpack that he feels makes him look like a baby. He wants to be able to ride his bike with the neighborhood kids... a real bike with only 2 wheels that he can race them on. He wants to take a gymnastics class so he can use that massive upper body strength that crawling for 10 years has given him. He wants to be able to go to the mall and ride the escalator without Mommy having to make plans ton help him do so. And, in high school... he wants to be in a marching band. He has a tremendous love for music and after seeing the Rose Parade this year, he has decided that THAT is what he wants to do. There was even a high schooler in the parade this year who happens to have CP. For a 10 year old who has CP, that is completely and totally inspirational. He wants it. For the first time in his life, he sees that it might be possible. 

Playing soccer in his wheelchair.

If you are interested in donating to Andrew's therapy and medical expenses, click on www.youcaring.com/helpandrewwalk .

Meet Andrew

Andrew has been through more in his 10 years than most people go through in a lifetime. He and his brother Benjamin were born at 26 weeks as two surviving triplets. Their identical brother AJ passed away shortly after birth.

Mommy and Andrew in the NICU at 1 day old.

The boys' bond has always been extraordinary. Here they are on the day Andrew came home from the hospital at 2 months old. Ben stayed in the NICU for another month.

Because of this prematurity, Andrew has brain damage from a brain bleed and a stroke that led to a Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. He uses a wheelchair and crawls as his main source of mobility. Benjamin also has disabilities related to his prematurity.

The boys have always had an amazing bond. Andrew is in the green shirt. This was their 10th birthday.

As Andrew's parents, we have tried many traditional and non-traditional therapies and surgeries to help Andrew achieve his goal of someday being able to walk unassisted. Many of these therapies are not covered by health insurance. In the past, we have tried Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Conductive Education programs as well as traditional physical therapy and hamstring lengthening procedures. 
Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) is the next step in his path to being able to walk. It is a surgery that involves selectively cutting nerves in order to allow his muscles to work correctly. The doctor that we have chosen for this surgery is the worldwide expert. He works out of St. Louis Children's hospital in Missouri. People from all over the world travel to have this doctor operate on their children. He has a tremendous success rate with a VERY low rate of complications. He is who we want operating on our child, especially for a surgery that has the potential for being life altering. Luckily, this doctor has accepted Andrew and we have our surgery date of November 25th, 2014.

Andrew will need intense physical therapy for a year and a half following the procedure. He will need to be in therapy 5 days a week. Insurance only covers a very small portion of these sessions and we do have a copay for each one. Therapy twice a week with his therapist will cost approximately $6,000. We also have a PT student coming to the house 2 days a week to do the prescribed exercises. Being that the surgeon is out of state, we will have travel expenses for both the surgery and the follow-ups and our insurance deductible as well. We are only trying to raise a small portion of the costs so that he can reach his full potential.
Please help us help Andrew to walk.


If you are interested in donating to Andrew's therapy and medical expenses, click on www.youcaring.com/helpandrewwalk .