The parents of a youngster who is back home after a life-changing operation say she is making “great progress”.

Eve Williams underwent a specialist operation in the St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, in the US, last month in a bid to help her walk independently.

 

 

The seven-year-old from Menston , who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, had selective dorsal rhizotomy (sdr) surgery and also had an operation to lengthen her heel cords, after more than £100,000 was raised to help pay for the treatment and subsequent physiotherapy.

Now she is at home with her family – dad David, mum Gina and sister Scarlett – and on the way to recovery.

“Eve is making great progress with her walking and took her first independent steps in her Kaye walker last Tuesday,” the family say on their website evesjourney.co.uk.

“It's a matter of building up her confidence and stamina now.

“Having the money in Eve’s fund has allowed us to buy her a specialist treadmill that should be here by the end of the week. That will really help her achieve her goals.”

Her operation was carried out by the world-renowned Dr TS Park, who is a specialist in sdr, a procedure that corrects misfiring nerves to improve a patient’s mobility.

The procedure is followed by intensive physiotherapy in the US and further treatment back at home, which could last up to five years.

Several families from West Yorkshire have now had surgery from Dr Park, including Ben Smithson, 11, from Ilkley , who is currently in America for an 18-month check-up and Evan Whitton, eight, from Silsden , who will represent Yorkshire at a Paralympic Games flame ceremony.