Noah’s Wish to Walk: Brave boy (5) has a Christmas dream come true

It’s been a Chirtsmas dream come true for a brave little boy who has finally realised his ‘wish to walk’ after a massive fundraising across the South East helped him to undergo life-changing surgery in the US.

Noah O’Sullivan (4) was born at just 29 weeks old and diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy 18 months later. He has survived two brain bleeds, hydrocephalus and meningitis.

Last year Noah’s parents, Debbie and David O’Sullivan, who live in county Waterford, launched a fundraiser to help him get to the US for surgery after discovering he was eligible for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery.

Noah’s surgery at the St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri was a huge success. And after several week of post-op physio, the five-year-old who has touched the hearts of everyone who has met him or followed his journey was able to take his first steps unaided.

His overjoyed parents took to social media over Christmas to thank the many people across the South East who helped Noah’s dream come true.

They wrote: “One year ago we launched ‘Noah’s Wish to Walk;. Never in our wildest dreams did we think we would be sat here just 12 months later watching him do just that!!

“We have lots of work to do to get his walking pattern as smooth as it can be, for him to be able to walk barefoot, to get up from the ground, to run, jump, climb stairs and so much more. But what a start he is off to! To every single person who made this possible…..THANK YOU!!

“We had an outpouring support from all over the world, from family, friends and people we had never met, all wanting to help.

“We have met amazing people on this journey, made some very special friends and so many memories but most of all, made our greatest dream come true!”

*For more information on Noah’s Wish To Walk, visit: www.wishtowalk.ie