Your donations mean toddler will walk for the first time
Jennie Ellard with her niece Molly, who has successfully been through life-changing surgery in the USA.
“MOLLY’s mission is accomplished!” - These are the words of Jennie Ellard, who appealed to Courier readers to help send three-year-old niece Molly to the US for a life-changing operation.
After being overwhelmed by the kindness of donors, the family raised the £54,000 they needed and the operation took place at St Louis Hospital in Missouri last Tuesday.
Dctors have predicted that Molly, who has a form of cerebral palsy which until now meant her legs were bowed, should be able to walk by May.
Cllr Ellard, a member of Stratford District Council, said: “We cannot believe how lovely people can be.
“One friend who works for a flapjack manufacturer had some leftover ingredients following a Jubilee event, so she made a whole load of flapjacks and sold them on the shop floor to raise funds for us. Another friend ran a fun run for us.
“We have even had support from people we don’t know. One lady sent me an email after reading the Courier article to say that her granddaughter was also called Molly and loved dancing, so she wanted to help us.
“It restores your faith in the human race.”
Molly’s parents Becky and Richard, who live in Broadway in Worcestershire, even received a generous contribution from high-profile publicist Max Clifford, who also lives in the village.
While at the American hospital, the couple, who have two other young children, encountered other families from the UK who were there for the same reason as them - some of whom are planning to see David Cameron to ask him to try to make the operation available on the NHS.
Cllr Ellard said: “Richard had promised Molly that, whatever happens, she would be able to walk.
“There are moments when you forget that she cannot walk and then you are reminded and it’s heartbreaking.
“She has an enormous amount of physiotherapy in front of her, but we are still hoping she will be able to start at a mainstream school next September.”
She added: “We feel very lucky. Molly’s mission is accomplished!”
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Weather for Kenilworth
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
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Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 18 C
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