Five-Year-Old Girl Undergoes Pioneering Surgery After Funds Pour in for Op

A five-year old girl underwent a life-changing surgery that helped her walk normally thanks to months of tireless fundraising that saw people donate over £42,000. Lily Ketteringham was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was just nine months old which meant that she was unable to walk without taking the support of a frame. Her family and friends managed to raise over £42,000 that allowed her to undergo Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery.

The SDR surgery was available only in the US until recently and is now available in the UK It  “involves opening the lower vertebrae to reveal the spinal cord which contains the neurons of the central nervous system. Electric stimulation is then used to identify and sub-divide sensory and motor nerves until specific nerves and nerve roots affecting the spastic muscles are identified and cut off.,” the Daily Mail reported.

Confirming that the surgery was successful, Lily’s father Steve Ketteringham said, “The operation went well and there were no problems. Lily had some back spasms last night which was difficult to see. The next few days will be hard for her as it is bed rest.”


Source-Medindia