Rawtenstall boy walks for first time after US operation

11:20am Monday 30th July 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

Theo in hospital in Missouri Theo in hospital in Missouri

A NINE-year-old boy has taken his first steps following a life-changing operation in America.

Theo Bishop, from Rawtenstall, underwent surgery in Missouri and is now able to walk flat-footed.

He suffers from cerebral palsy and could only walk on his tip toes with a special frame before the surgery.

His mum Mandy, from Rawtenstall, said it was 'amazing' to see her son on his feet.

Speaking from the St Louis Children’s Hospital 4,000 miles away in Missouri, she said: “Everything has gone well so far. He has been a little under the weather since the first operation but he is perking up again now.

“He managed to take his first flat-footed steps with his support, which is a massive step forward. It is a huge and amazing moment for us.

“He is having physio regularly now since the first operation and is getting ready for the second one.”

Theo, from Fallbarn Crescent, Rawtenstall, cannot walk without a frame and was diagnosed with the condition when he was just 14 months old.

His family have had to raise £45,000 to fund the two operations in America, which is a spinal procedure known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy.

Surgeons cut the spinal nerves that force Theo to walk on his tip toes causing him pain.

Theo, Mandy and dad Stuart launched a campaign in October 2011 to raise the money for the operation, which is not available on the NHS.

The surgery is aimed at enabling the Balladen Primary School pupil to put his feet on the floor and make it easier for him to move around.

One day football-mad Theo hopes to be able to have a kick-about with his sister Jaime-Leigh and brother Thomas.

Theo’s dad Stuart is set to return home next week as he has to go back to work. Mandy’s brother, Andrew Payne, will then fly out to help look after Theo when he has had his operations.

While in America Theo was met Bacup-born Steve Towers, who now lives in Louisiana, who paid for Theo’s flights and accommodation after reading his story online.

The second operation is due to take place on August 7 to lengthen the tendons in his legs that tighten and cause him intense pain.

Theo is due to return to the UK on August 30, and at this stage his family is unsure whether he will be able to go straight back to Balladen Primary School in September to start year five.

The fundraising campaign reached £25,000 in the first two months after Theo made a YouTube video to appeal for support, and the family set up the Theo’s Big Leap website and Facebook page.

Comments (5)

11:32am Mon 30 Jul 12

nonsence says...

what a nice change to hear some great uplifting news,well done, fantastic, i wish him a speedy recovery
what a nice change to hear some great uplifting news,well done, fantastic, i wish him a speedy recovery nonsence

12:59pm Mon 30 Jul 12

her from here says...

Good luck Theo and family it's nice to hear the good news.
Good luck Theo and family it's nice to hear the good news. her from here

3:20pm Mon 30 Jul 12

peely says...

Great news - wish the family all the best !
Great news - wish the family all the best ! peely

2:33am Wed 1 Aug 12

sjtbrit1 says...

My fiance Alice and i drove from New Orleans to St. Louis to meet the family and I have to say Theo is a very brave young man. He endured some major pain with his first surgery, and bt Sunday when we were leaving he was getting back to his normal self, and all he wanted to do was go swim in the hotel pool, which unfortunately he wasn't alloed to do.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who aided the Bishop family in this attempt to give this little boy a chance at a normal life. The family is so typical of Lancashire folks, very down to earth and grateful for everything they have.
I appreciate the recognition in the article, but it was my honor to give back to the community there, I have lived in the USA for 31 years but still think of Bacup and the valley as home, but I would like to personally thank everyone who donated to this family, they are truly a special loving family who care for their son and this was truly a momentous task and the people of rossendale and beyond deserve a hughe round of applause. Alice and I are 2 of the lucky people who got to spend 48 hours with this amazing young man and his family, and from my heart to your I say you all did good , real good. This families life will be forever changed because of the goodness of the people of rossendale and beyond. and remember please pay it forward whenever you can. steve.
My fiance Alice and i drove from New Orleans to St. Louis to meet the family and I have to say Theo is a very brave young man. He endured some major pain with his first surgery, and bt Sunday when we were leaving he was getting back to his normal self, and all he wanted to do was go swim in the hotel pool, which unfortunately he wasn't alloed to do. I would like to take this opportunity to thank every single person who aided the Bishop family in this attempt to give this little boy a chance at a normal life. The family is so typical of Lancashire folks, very down to earth and grateful for everything they have. I appreciate the recognition in the article, but it was my honor to give back to the community there, I have lived in the USA for 31 years but still think of Bacup and the valley as home, but I would like to personally thank everyone who donated to this family, they are truly a special loving family who care for their son and this was truly a momentous task and the people of rossendale and beyond deserve a hughe round of applause. Alice and I are 2 of the lucky people who got to spend 48 hours with this amazing young man and his family, and from my heart to your I say you all did good , real good. This families life will be forever changed because of the goodness of the people of rossendale and beyond. and remember please pay it forward whenever you can. steve. sjtbrit1

10:45pm Wed 1 Aug 12

Dr James Stoxen DC says...

Its not whether your feet are flat or high arched its about the spring suspension system and the muscles that support it. The spring suspension system springs you off the ground providing protection from impacts of walking and running.

Also the spring suspension system recycles energy by springing you off of the ground rather than banging you into the ground. These muscles have long tendons, which are elastic providing free elastic energy that will allow movements to be more efficient.

The key is that if the spring mechanism weakens it can stiffen or lock which turns into a lever also known as foot lock mechanism, which is less efficient and cannot protect you as well from impacts.

Less efficiency equals chronic fatigue, inability to protect you from chronic impacts, which causes pain.

Read these articles by DR. James Stoxen; about the spring suspension system with self-help hands on treatments and exercises to help with the spring system mechanism.

Foot Lock! What You Get From Standing Too Long And How To Prevent It

http://teamdoctorsbl
og.com/2012/03/31/vi
deo-tutorial-159-foo
t-lock-what-you-get-
from-standing-all-da
y-how-it-negatively-
affects-your-health-
and-how-to-prevent-i
t/

Foot Eversion

http://teamdoctorsbl
og.com/2012/04/10/vi
deo-tutorial-105-spr
ing-strengthening-ex
ercises-of-the-human
-foot-in-eversion/

Dr James Stoxen DC, President, Team Doctors The Barefoot Running Doctor
Its not whether your feet are flat or high arched its about the spring suspension system and the muscles that support it. The spring suspension system springs you off the ground providing protection from impacts of walking and running. Also the spring suspension system recycles energy by springing you off of the ground rather than banging you into the ground. These muscles have long tendons, which are elastic providing free elastic energy that will allow movements to be more efficient. The key is that if the spring mechanism weakens it can stiffen or lock which turns into a lever also known as foot lock mechanism, which is less efficient and cannot protect you as well from impacts. Less efficiency equals chronic fatigue, inability to protect you from chronic impacts, which causes pain. Read these articles by DR. James Stoxen; about the spring suspension system with self-help hands on treatments and exercises to help with the spring system mechanism. Foot Lock! What You Get From Standing Too Long And How To Prevent It http://teamdoctorsbl og.com/2012/03/31/vi deo-tutorial-159-foo t-lock-what-you-get- from-standing-all-da y-how-it-negatively- affects-your-health- and-how-to-prevent-i t/ Foot Eversion http://teamdoctorsbl og.com/2012/04/10/vi deo-tutorial-105-spr ing-strengthening-ex ercises-of-the-human -foot-in-eversion/ Dr James Stoxen DC, President, Team Doctors The Barefoot Running Doctor Dr James Stoxen DC

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree