Cerebral palsy campaigner's joy after she gets go-ahead for life-changing operation

Cerebral palsy campaigner's joy after she gets go-ahead for life-changing operation

9:31am Thursday 8th May 2014 in News By Tui Benjamin, Reporter

THE final step to independence beckons for a cerebral palsy campaigner who has been given the go-ahead to become one of the oldest people in the UK to undergo a life-changing operation.

Laura Ramsden, aged 34, has battled for the right to irreversible neurosurgery which is usually only offered to children.

After the operation, Laura, of Bowker Street, Radcliffe, will be pain-free for the first time, and should be able to walk unassisted.

The complex and risky procedure Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) reduces tight muscle tone, known as spasticity, in the lower limbs by cutting nerves and has an upper age limit of between 35 and 40.

It is only available in a handful of hospitals in the UK, but last week Laura received confirmation she will go have the surgery at the Walton Centre of Excellence in Liverpool this June.

The victory marks the end of her two-year wait to be granted the procedure, which has seen her overcome numerous setbacks.

The day before she was told the good news she found out other patients at the same hospital had had their funding reversed and earlier this year she was temporarily taken off the hospitals surgery list.

Laura said: I wasnt even going to go to my appointment at the hospital because I was expecting to be declined, and I thought after two years of waiting I couldnt go there and hear it wasnt going to happen.

Original post:
Cerebral palsy campaigner's joy after she gets go-ahead for life-changing operation