THE family of an eight-year-old boy suffering from cerebral palsy are looking forward to 2018 with positivity after a ‘surreal’ year.

In September Samuel Hosker, from Blackburn, had an operation after a fundraising campaign collected more than £60,000 to fund the surgery and treatment.

The spinal dorsal rhizotomy operation, not available on the NHS, aims to prevent Samuel becoming wheelchair-bound and to aid his movement with a frame.

He is now home and his two years of physio is underway.

Mum Michelle Hosker said signs are looking good as they approach the end of a ‘whirlwind’ year.

The family only started fundraising for the operation in March this year looking to raise £30,000.

Mrs Hosker, 39, said: “It’s surreal to think about, I cannot believe what we have achieved in such a short space of time.

“We can now look forward to going into the new year with positivity for a change.

“The operation was something we toyed with since he was three or four.

“As he got older we could see he was struggling so we thought we had to act otherwise he’d be in a wheelchair by the time he was at secondary school.

“We’ve still got a long way to go but things have been going really well.

“Samuel is already able to move around more freely and he’s relaxed, he’s happy in himself.

“He’s more independent and there are little things which before would have been impossible for him.”

The family, which includes dad Keiron and Samuel’s three siblings, were due to go to a cottage in the Lake District with extended family for the New Year.

The St Peter’s RC Primary School pupil is undergoing intense physiotherapy at home and in school to strengthen the muscles in his legs following the operation at Alder Hey hospital.

This includes standing and floor exercises and hydro exercises in the pool.

Mrs Hosker said in the New Year the family are looking for Samuel to start horse riding as it good for core stability, although Samuel ‘is scared to death of horses’.

The family have again paid tribute to everyone who has donated to help Samuel.

Mrs Hosker said: “We just can’t thank everyone who helped us by donating enough.

“We don’t want people to think just because he’s had the operation we’ve forgotten about them.

“We’ll remember forever what they have done and we just can’t thank them enough.

“It’s great to know so many people in the community are so caring and they have helped us so much.”

This year also saw Samuel, a major Elvis Presley fan, go on a holiday of a lifetime to Graceland in America, the home of his hero.

Samuel was born three months prematurely and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 10 months old.