THE family of a Tranent youngster are coming together to raise money to give him the opportunity to walk every day at school and home.
Louise and Mark Wood, of The Waggonway, have kickstarted a fundraising campaign for their son Rocco, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
The 12-year-old is fully wheelchair dependant and requires 24-hour nursing care.
The campaign aims to raise £85,000 for Tree of Hope, which offers hope to families to transform the lives of sick children, for two Innowalk devices which would give Rocco independence around the house and at school.
The Innowalk is a powerful three-in-one device for sitting, standing and moving, allowing safe and comfortable movement for the user.
Now that Rocco is approaching his teenage years, the equipment he used as a child is no longer suitable and specialist equipment such as the Innowalk could “change Rocco’s life forever”.
Louise said: “Our son was born three months premature, which resulted in him having quadriplegic cerebral palsy due to complications at birth.
“Despite all the odds against him, weighing only 985grams when he was born, Rocco is now a happy boy enjoying life, going to school with his friends at The Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.”
Rocco has visual impairment and stays at the school four nights a week.
Rocco has undergone a number of operations at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh for various health complications due to his condition, which included double hip reconstruction in 2016 due to his bones not developing correctly.
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Throughout the years, Rocco has received help and support through equipment such as Eyegaze – an electronic device that allows a person to control a computer or tablet by looking at words or commands on a video screen – standing frames and wheelchairs.
Recently, Rocco and other children at The Royal Blind School had the opportunity to trial the use of an Innowalk, which allowed them to feel what it was like to walk.
Louise said that Innowalk would “change Rocco’s outlook on life to help achieve long life goals, as well as maintain good growth and development”.
The Innowalk would help Rocco walk and cycle safely and securely, something his family “never ever thought would be possible or ever be able to see our son do”.
The equipment would even help minimise the risk of Rocco undergoing another double hip reconstruction, developing scoliosis and complications of the spine, and would help prevent against pressure sores and muscle weakness.
Most of all, though, Louise said, it would “minimise and prevent long-term pain and suffering”.
Rocco struggles to keep active due to the inability to support his neck, body and legs unaided.
Louise added: “Rocco absolutely loved it when we did his assessment in the Innowalk, he was so happy and amazed with himself that he could actually stand and move his legs at the same time, to feel what it is like to walk.”
The Innowalk trainer would last Rocco through to adulthood and could be used by others too.
“As parents, we felt extremely proud and were bursting with pride in the way Rocco took to using this equipment so quickly,” Louise said.
“However, we were also extremely sad and upset when he had to come out of it knowing that he would not have that same sensation again, being able to walk or cycle, unless we had an Innowalk of our own that he could use everyday.
“We can’t even begin to imagine how Rocco feels.”
To donate to the campaign, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/fundraising-for-rocco-innowalk2022
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