JOY AS CRISS TAKES FIRST STEPS
FAMILY HAILS ‘AMAZING’ PROGRESS – BUT APPEALS FOR HELP AS TWIN RYAN NEEDS TREATMENT
ABRISTOL mum has described the unbelievable moment she watched her seven-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy, take his first unaided steps.
After weeks of physiotherapy at a private centre in Latvia, Criss Balasova, from Horfield, was able to lift one foot in front of the other and walk his first steps.
“It was amazing,” said mum Inga. “After just a few days there he was able to take a few steps on his own, he was able to keep his balance and his core muscles are stronger now.”
However, he needs to undergo years of specialist treatment before he will be able to walk further distances by himself.
And his twin brother Ryan, who was also born with cerebral palsy but with more severe symptoms, is yet to have the expensive treatment.
Ryan cannot walk, talk or even feed himself. He is completely dependent on his parents but mum Inga says he is always smiling and is such a happy, determined child.
Both sons need prolonged physiotherapy at the specialist centre,
where experts help to stretch the boy’s muscles and stop the tightness which restricts their movement.
To send their children for the treatment, the family has to raise at least £10,000 just for one year of sessions.
“I feel lucky,” said Inga. “My boys are not in pain. At Ryan’s school I see so many children with worse
conditions who are in pain daily and I think how lucky I am.
“But I would love for them to be able to walk and enjoy all the things that other kids get to do.
“Ryan is a very determined child. If he is given a job at school he will work so hard until he achieves it. I know if he has this treatment he will do so well.”
The twins were born at 28 weeks during a traumatic birth where Inga was rushed in for an emergency caesarean-section after Ryan was delivered.
“It was the worst day of my life - I was so scared I was going to lose them,” said Inga. “I have had two other children so I knew it was happening when it shouldn’t be.
“After Ryan had been delivered it had been 14 minutes and they said Criss had changed positions so they needed to take me in for an emergency c-section.
“I was taken away from Ryan and when I woke up I had no idea if my babies were OK.”
Scans later confirmed that both children had cerebral palsy.
To help them raise the money for the treatment the family have launched a Gofundme page.
It reads: “We do hope if we could take him there every half year as recommended by specialist help one day he will be able to walk.
“As this rehabilitation cost around £2,000 per child it’s hard for our family to afford to take them there every six months.”
To donate, visit uk.gofundme. com/f/rehabilitation-for-twins