BY ETOP EKANEM

This is not the best of time for the family of Mr. & Mrs Felix Ifeoma Onyekwelu as their 10-year-old son, Charles, is yet to eat and wear clothes by himself . Charles could not stand and walk because of his spastic limbs.

Charles who was born on July 12, 2002, a handsome, charming, intelligent and strong willed boy was diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy which affected his limbs (mobility skills) and speech, and he crawls around like a toddler.

Master Charles

According the Mr Felix Onyekwelu, Charles’ father, “through research and consultations, we came across a centre for cerebral palsy spasticity at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri, USA. We contacted them and having carried out all the necessary tests and evaluations needed, Charles was accepted as a suitable candidate for the surgery.

“The operation has been scheduled for June/July 2012 and will cost $53,000 and a trip to America for the operation. This is why we are appealing to good-hearted people to please help Charles live a normal life before it is too late. There is no way we the parents can afford such expenses.”

Mr Onyekwelu who is trader at Idumota and lives at C-75 Apapa St, Mobil Estate, Satellite Town, Lagos appeals for financial help so that Charles would have the operation in June by donating.

“God still works miracles and you can be part of this miracle. No amount is too small or too big. Any amount will help a long way. Please donate kindly in the name of our Almighty and let us see his wonders manifest,” he said.

In a report signed by T. S. Park, MD, Neurosurgeon-in-Chief and Deanna Walter, Coordinator, Centre for Cerebral Palsy Spasticity, St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri, USA, the hospital said:. “We feel that Charles is a very good candidate for the rhizotomy surgery.

His spine x-ray is normal. His hip x-ray shows that his left hip is completely covered and his right is minimally uncovered but stable. His brain MRI shows slightly enlarged ventricles but no clear PVL. If he has the selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery, we expect the following improvements:

His spasticity will be permanently reduced; his sitting and standing postures will improve; his transitions between postures will be easier and faster; his balance and level of comfort will both improve; his walking will improve significantly and he will be able to walk  independently with a walker; Charles will most likely require orthopedic surgery for both hamstring and calf muscles to achieve the best possible outcomes.

We recommend that those muscle lengthening surgeries be done via percutaneous lengthening which is less invasive and has less risk of permanent weakening than traditional muscle lengthening.

You can have that done at home if it is available there or you can have it done while you are in 81. Louis. “For all of the reasons mentioned above, we feel that Charles is a very good candidate for the rhizotomy surgery and that the permanent reduction in abnormal muscle tone will help him significantly. We strongly recommend that he have the rhizotomy surgery.”

NOTE: If you are touched by this story please call Mr Felix Onyekwelu on  08068101567, 08033717168. or send your donation to: FIRST BANK OF NIGERIA PLC; NAME OF ACCOUNT: CHARLES ONYEKWELU; ACCOUNT NO: 3058297457; SORT CODE:  011154275.