This Christmas, Skye Swinton got exactly the gift she’d dreamed of – the chance to walk unaided for the first time.
The
four-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, had life-changing spinal surgery
paid for by Britain’s biggest lottery winners, Chris and Colin Weir.
Skye
was refused the treatment on the NHS, so her mother Ruth wrote to the
Weirs in desperation, asking for help to pay the £40,000 cost.
The four-year-old girl
took her first steps - thanks to the generosity of Britain's biggest
lottery winners, Chris and Colin Weir
The couple generously
agreed to share their £161million EuroMillions jackpot and Skye had the
surgery in October – meaning she took her first steps without walking
sticks just in time for Christmas.
Mrs Swinton, 39, said: ‘Seeing her walking with a smile on her face is
the most amazing Christmas present. Her progress has been amazing.
‘In the past she could not walk properly on her own because she could only walk on the tips of her toes.
‘Now, she can get her heels on the ground and there is no stopping her.
‘She is absolutely loving it and wants to show off how well she can walk.’
Skye, who was born 13 weeks early weighing just 1lb 15oz, has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
Her
operation, a selective dorsal rhizotomy carried out at Bristol’s
Frenchay Hospital, is new to the UK, but has been performed in the
States for years.
The couple generously agreed to share their
£161million EuroMillions jackpot and Skye had the surgery in October -
meaning she took her first steps without walking sticks just in time for
Christmas
Skye was refused the treatment on the NHS, so
her mother Ruth (right) wrote to the Weirs in desperation, asking for
help to pay the £40,000 cost
It involves partially cutting nerves where they join the spinal cord, in order to loosen the muscles.
Without it she would have remained confined to a wheelchair, and would have needed major corrective surgery in a few years.
Mr and Mrs Weir, of North Ayrshire, Scotland, became Britain’s biggest single jackpot winners in 2011.
They paid £28,000 towards the surgery after the Swinton family raised £12,000.
Mrs
Swinton, a full-time carer for Skye who lives in Cheltenham with her
husband John, said: ‘This will make a huge difference to Skye’s life.
‘In time, she will be able to take part in all the activities her peers are.’
In a statement, Mr and Mrs Weir said they hoped the donation would ease the family’s worries.
They said: ‘Skye faces many challenges in the next year.
'Without the additional worry and pressure of fundraising, their time can be spent on Skye.
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