Brave Corin gets date for vital operation

A FOUR-year-old with cerebral palsy who has never been able to walk has finally been given a date for a potentially life-changing operation.

December 11 is the day Corin Potts and his family have all been waiting for and working towards over the past six months. More than £42,000 has been raised by friends, family and well-wishers for the Corin's First Steps appeal to pay for the selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery.

After fearing they might have to take Corin to the United States for the operation to ease the tightening of muscles and pain he suffers, they were given the "amazing" news that he would be able to have the procedure at Frenchay Hospital, just seven miles from their Yate home.

Corin's delighted dad James, 31, said: "On December 11 our boy will begin his journey to hopefully taking his first steps.

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"Although this has been emotional and real from the start, this news has made it even more real and makes all the hard work and graft since May 3 worthwhile.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been involved in making this dream into a reality, your efforts will never be forgotten, you are amazing people."

Corin was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 18 months old, when a scan showed scar tissue on both sides of his brain.

He cannot walk unaided so relies on a walking frame or wheelchair to get around.

But the procedure, which involves cutting some of the nerves in the spinal cord, should ease the pains he suffers and give him the chance to walk on his own.

Fundraising events have been held by Corin's parents James and Faye Weeks, their family and friends, to give the youngster the surgery and vital aftercare he will need.

And even burglars breaking into Shireway Community Centre in Yate and stealing money raised through a treasure hunt will not be able to stop the youngster having the surgery.

Mr Potts added: "If Corin had not been able to have surgery at Frenchay and we had to go to America I would have had to take two months off work and we would have had to move out there for two months, paying bills there and here. With flights and everything else it would have been massively expensive."

Equipment has already been bought to help Corin build up his strength ahead of the surgery.

Mr Potts said: "Corin doesn't get a lot of sleep because of his general aches and pains, which wake him up.

"If the operation helps that we will be happy. Anything more than that will be a bonus.

"If he ends up being able to walk on his own, even for a short distance – then wow, that would be truly amazing."