Sleaford boy Joel James, 11, back home after life-saving operation in US
A SLEAFORD boy who had a life-changing operation in America has now arrived back home.
Joel James, 11, underwent his life-changing Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) operation in St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, USA.
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LIFE-CHANGING: Joel James is pictured in a session to work on his balance.
After a few weeks of recovery, he arrived back home on the weekend and physio started on Monday.
In her latest online blog, mother Karen James said: “I have been stretching him and doing basic exercises with him but the real work started on Monday.
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“Thank you all for your support, Joel is continuing to work hard is very positive about his future.”
Mrs James said that her son still had a ‘huge smile’ on his face after undergoing the major surgery.
She added: “He is growing more confident in climbing up and down steps and stairs and has even tried to let go and not use his hands.”
Before the operation, his mother launched a major fundraising campaign to raise some of the £50,000 needed to pay for the surgery and recovery.
Joel was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 23 months. The condition meant that messages going from his brain to his legs are “short-circuiting”, leaving him struggling to stretch his legs straight and his leg muscles permanently tight.
Tasks such as climbing stairs, getting into the car or even putting his socks on, have become “momentous struggles”.
For more information visit www.joelsquest.co.uk or Joel’s Quest on Facebook.
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