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Campaign will help Tyler walk
Karen Newton with her son Tyler who suffers from cerebral palsy. (METP-11-05-11PF009) Picture: Paul Franks/Peterborough ET
The mother of a severely disabled toddler from Maxey, near Peterborough will leap 12,000 feet from a plane as part of a campaign to help her son play and talk.
Brave two-year-old Tyler Maxwell, of West End Road, Maxey, was diagnosed with spastic diaplegia cerebral palsy in May 2009 – a condition which means he is unable to sit or roll.
His mother Karen Newton currently takes him to a specialist parent and child group at the National Institute of Conductive Education in Birmingham.
The aim of the group is to develop Tyler’s damaged brain so he can play and communicate.
However, although the weekly sessions at the institute are free at the moment because of his age, it has suggested that Tyler attend as regularly as possible to enhance his development – costing Karen £7,476 for a 12-week course when he turns three next month.
To find the cash, Karen has set up a number of fundraising events, including a daring skydive at Sibson Airfield on May 27.
She said: “Tyler’s not mobile at all on his own.
“But we’ve been going to the Institute for a year and I think it’s really beneficial for him.
“They teach the parts of his brain that are damaged so he can learn to live an individual life, whether that’s in a wheelchair or to walk himself.”
She added: “I hope to get around £4,000 from the skydive.
“I’ve never done anything like it before. I’m excited but when my legs are dangling out of the plane I don’t know how I’ll feel.
“But it’s all for Tyler and my goal is to get him walking so that will keep me going.”
It has been a difficult start to life for the toddler.
He was born nine weeks premature in June 2008 at the former Peterborough District Hospital, weighing just 2lb 14oz.
He spent the first few days of his life in intensive care and in total Tyler spent seven weeks in the Special Care Baby Unit.
When he was eleven months old, Karen noticed that Tyler could still not sit or roll, let alone stand or walk.
In May 2009 he was diagnosed with the condition, which mostly affects the right side of his body.
He attends physiotherapy and speech therapy twice a month and has a standing frame to strengthen his hips.
Karen said: “It’s been very hard for us.
“Every day is like an emotional rollercoaster and it can be frustrating.
“I don’t feel like I’m a mum, more like I’m his carer.”
The condition is the same suffered by Peterborough four-year-old Leo Waites, who underwent major surgery in USA in December to help him walk unaided.
Karen added: “I’m hoping Great Ormond Street Hospital give him the all-clear for an operation in the USA and then I’ll fund raise for that.
“But for the time being, I want to keep him at the institute to help him.”
As well as the Karen’s skydive, a number of other fund-raising events are being planned.
They include a live music day at the Cherry Tree pub, in Oundle Road, Woodston, Peterborough, on May 29. It will take place from 11am to 11pm and feature eight live bands.
Anyone who would like to donate to Tyler’s cause they can be made to The Tyler Maxwell Fund which has been set up at Norwich and Peterborough Building Society.
Donations can be deposited to sort-code 08-60-81 and account number 35957765.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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