Fundraising family set sights on life-changing operation

Adam Kutereba

A fundraising campaign to send a nine-year-old boy to America for life-changing treatment has been launched.

Adam Kutereba, from Littleborough, suffers from Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy, caused by a brain haemorrhage he suffered when he was four days old.

His parents, Rachel, 33 and Rick, 34, have launched the ‘Adam Kutereba SDR Fund’ and hope to raise £60,000 to send their son to St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, America, for an operation called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR).

Adam was born 13 weeks premature, weighing just 21bs 8oz. He suffered a lung hemorrhage at two days old, followed by a further lung hemorrhage and a brain hemorrhage at four days old. He was given just a 10 per cent chance of survival.

Adam, a pupil at Littleborough Community Primary School, is in a wheelchair and although he has a walker he can only walk between 90-100 metres, which is a struggle. The Tetraplegic Cerebral Palsy affects both his legs and his right arm

Mrs Kutereba said the operation will “massively” improve Adam’s quality of life.

The mother of two, added: “We started thinking about it about 12 months ago and had to get x-rays done and get everything all together and send it over to America and then they would decide whether they thought Adam was suitable.

“We found out the week before Christmas that he is.

“It was the best Christmas present ever.

“We then had to decide on what month to go, so we have picked July because we don’t want Adam to miss school.”

The aim of the operation is to ease muscle spasticity and improve mobility. It involves cutting the nerves in the lower spine that are responsible for muscle rigidity.

The operation will mean that Adam’s sitting and standing postures will improve, his spasticity will be permanently reduced, his transitions between postures will be faster and easier, his balance and level of comfort will both improve and his walking will improve.

He will be able to walk independently using a walker in all environments and may have the potential to walk using crutches is his right arm improves.

Mrs Kutereba says that Adam is very “uncomfortable.”

She said: “He is at that age now where he is getting frustrated, he is seeing his friends playing football and it is hitting home.”

The family, including 11-year-old daughter Shannon, are now setting out organising fundraising events to raise the £60,000.

The money will cover the cost of the operation as well as post-op care in America and any equipment needed. Any extra money raised will cover intensive physio that Adam will need once back in the UK.

“The support we have had is amazing,” said Mrs Kutereba, “Our friends and family and the whole of Littleborough have been fantastic. I think it helps because Adam is a cheeky little chappy!”

Fundraising events include a wax-athon, a Clairvoyant evening and fundraising event at Littleborough Cricket Club.

To make a donation to the fund visit: http://www.justgiving.com/adamKuterebaSDRfund
Or for more information visit: www.adamkuterebasdrfund.co.uk