Harry Boyce was born with Diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy which affects muscles making it difficult to move and walk unaided.
However, as well as his own bravery Harry Boyce has a secret weapon – his parents Agnes Kolodziejczyk and Roy Boyce. The family also has many friends at Heathrow Express where Mum and Dad work as train drivers.
Hearing of a life altering operation, available at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, Agnes, Roy, staff and friends set about raising the money required under the banner ‘Helping Harry.’
Business wide activities included sponsored cycle rides and runs, cake sales, sponsored slimming, fundraising parties, jamborees and raffles. Managing director, Keith Greenfield, even swam the Henley Classic, a distance of two kilometres in open water, to raise funds for Harry.
The family travelled to St Louis and met with pioneering surgeon, Dr T. S. Park who has performed over 2,000 selective dorsal rhizotomy operations and is renowned as a world leader in his field.
‘Dr Park told us that he felt that following Harry’s SDR operation Harry would walk unaided in the future. I can’t begin to explain how hearing this made us feel. We know that this is going to be the result of a long journey and lots of hard work, but seeing our little man walk is all we’ve wished for since starting this amazing journey,’ says Agnes.
Harry was in the operating theatre at St Louis for five hours. Agnes and Roy were given their own room to wait in and regular updates by the surgery team.
‘As soon as the surgery had finished Dr Park came to see us and told us that everything had gone really well. Harry had coped with everything amazingly. He told us that Harry was in the recovery ward. As soon as he had come round and they were happy he was OK we were able to see our little man.’
Harry has been making good progress after a week long stay in hospital. Physiotherapy and various exercises are helping him become increasingly mobile. Agnes and Roy both thanked staff at Heathrow Express.
Says Agnes, ‘Hopefully, in the future, Harry will take his first steps on his own. This is a long way off yet and Harry has a lot of hard work ahead of him, but we really believe that he will get there. We will never be able to put into words how much this means to us, but you have all helped give Harry a bright new future. Thank you.’
If you want to donate to Harry’s cause, contact Agnes, by email: [email protected]
