After only a week...

Right now Elliot's Mum and Dad are at Great Ormond Street Hospital with Elliot as he is having another botox treatment in his legs (more about that in a sec).  They have asked us here at Operation Elliot HQ to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated so far.  [Editor's update on Tuesday: Elliot came round from his general anesthetic this afternoon and is doing well].

After only a week of campaigning you have helped us to raise over £1,400.  Morwenna and James are bowled over by the generosity of everyone who's donated, many of whom don't even know them or Elliot. 

This is just the start of a big challenge!  We only have until March 2014 and it's a lot to raise. To get us to our £66,300 target we will be shifting the focus towards fundraising events - asking people not just to donate but also to organise.  There are cake sales and quizzes and charity evenings and all sorts being planned across different locations. If you have an idea we'd love to feature you in this blog. It doesn't have to be big, every little helps. 

We are also trying to widen the network of people interested in the campaign. Press releases are being prepared, we're learning how to tweet (@SDRforElliot), and already we've had some great support. We hope to be able to post details of Bournemouth University American Football Club fundraising plans soon - they have decided to take on Operation Elliot as their fundraising project this year. Needless to say, we are delighted!

While we've all been fundraising, Elliot has been enjoying Halloween and doing lots of physiotherapy to increase strength in his calve and thigh muscles.  

It's these muscles that are problematic for Elliot, and anyone with diplegic cerebral palsy.  And that's why he's having more treatment at Great Ormond Street this week. Botox will be injected into four places in each leg from the top inside muscles (adductors) down to his calves. Botox helps reduce spasticity (tight muscle tone) by relaxing these muscles in order to make walking easier and more comfortable.  

It's complicated though - loosening muscle tone usually makes falls more frequesnt until the toxin has worn off after around 6 weeks.  What it does enable is an intense bout of physic and strengthening the core muscles, making them stronger when the toxin has worn off.  Sound impressive? It is, especially as Elliot is only 6!

Unfortunately the botox treatment is getting less and less effective as Elliot grows.  Hence our determination to prepare him for a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy and make life much, much easier. 

Thanks again for your support

Sally at Operation Elliot HQ