Port Sydney family rallies support for son’s life-changing surgery

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Like any mother, Melissa Perry wants what’s best for her boy.

Ten-year-old Nathan, the youngest of her three sons, suffers from spastic cerebral palsy, the most common form of cerebral palsy.

Perry describes his disease like this:

“For us, just walking around, it uses the same amount of energy as running a marathon for a person with spastic cerebral palsy. His muscles are working against him. They aren’t fluid like ours are. They’re always rigid. He can walk short distance, without any aid. But balance and endurance are an issue.”

Two years ago, Nathan had surgery to straighten legs and lengthen his muscles. The surgery – combined with his usual strong will and determination ­– allowed him to do things he’d never done. Now, in June of next year, he will be travelling to St. Louis, Missouri to undergo Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, a special spinal surgery that involves sectioning some of the sensory nerve fibers that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord.

For Nate, his mother says, the surgery will be life changing. But there’s a high price to be paid for healthcare outside the country that isn’t covered by OHIP.

Once they remove the spasticity, the muscles he hasn’t used or developed will need to be strengthen so he can continue to walk.
Melissa Perry

The cost of the surgery, which will be performed by world-renowned doctor Dr. T.S. Park, is around $71,000 CDN. But that amount doesn’t cover any other expenses that will be associated with their month-long stay. Perry is hoping to raise $100,000, which will help pay for private specialized physical therapy for Nathan and accommodation and food costs, as they will be staying in a hotel.

“He’ll have intensive therapy for a year, four to five days a week, and on top of that we’re hoping to hire a personal trainer for strength training,” says Perry. “Once they remove the spasticity, the muscles he hasn’t used or developed will need to be strengthen so he can continue to walk.”

The family is currently in fundraising mode and to date, $19,642 has been raised through their Donate For Nate campaign. There was also a walk-a-thon at Conroy Park in October to raise money for the cause and there’s plans for a Valentine’s dance in Bracebridge.

According to Perry, Nathan (or Nate as he’s more commonly referred to) never lets his disability stop him from going full throttle every day. He was diagnosed with the disease when he was 18 months old and has learned to overcome many obstacles. The V.K. Greer Public School student loves playing sledge hockey, his Tuesday night swimming lessons, and hanging out with his older brothers.

“But he has his good days and his bad,” says Perry. “As he got older, the differences between him and his peers were more evident. He’s not able to keep up as much as he’d like. He’s got a remarkable group of friends at school and as a mom that’s important. I think it’s great that there’s kids out there who are willing to see him for who he is and not his disability.”

Anyone wishing to make a donation toward Nathan’s surgery in St. Louis next can visit https://www.gofundme.com/donatefornatesdr or email [email protected].