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*STOP PRESS* EQUIPMENT FUNDED FOR DISABLED NINE-YEAR-OLD DENIED CHANCE TO WALK

Macy Page is only nine-years-old and has already endured multiple surgeries to repair three holes in her heart and rebuild her hip joints. All she wants now is to be able to walk – but Leicestershire NHS Trust has taken this opportunity away, refusing to provide the walking frame she needs, despite doctors saying it’s her only hope.

Macy, from Beaumont Leys, has Down Syndrome and must have daily physiotherapy to build the strength in her legs to enable her to stand and walk.  The local NHS trust won’t fund the walking frame that will help her as she is only expected to ‘walk for leisure’.

Time is running out – with every passing month the chances of Macy being able to walk are slipping further away, so her desperate mum, Samantha, turned to Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children who is urgently calling on the local community to raise the £2,310 needed to buy Macy the specialist frame and give her the chance to walk.

After surgery to rebuild her badly malformed hips two years ago, the NHS didn’t have a walking frame suitable to help Macy’s recovery, so she was left unable to do essential physiotherapy for 18 months.

She received a Local Education service funded walking frame last September, but policy dictates she’s only allowed to use it in school – and staff shortages mean she spends just half the time in it she should.

Mum Samantha said: “The situation is ridiculous. Macy’s has no access to a walker after school, at weekends or the holidays and time is running out for her to develop the strength to walk by herself. The older and bigger she gets the harder it will be for her.

“She uses a wheelchair to get around but her surgeon and physiotherapist say if Macy can use a walker at home she will quickly develop the strength to walk 60 meters on her own. This would give her freedom, independence, exercise and allow her to play with her friends.

“Now she faces the long summer with no walking frame. I’m terrified she will lose the progress she’s already made.

“Macy’s desperate to walk on her own and gets so much joy from using her walker, she even plays football in it at school. Walking has huge benefits for her health too as it improves her digestion, bone strength and even her sleep.

Newlife’s Senior Manager for Care Services, Carrick Brown, said: “We believe every disabled child has the right to fulfil their potential, regardless of their diagnosis or disability – and if Macy is to learn to walk and have all the benefits that brings she needs a walker she can use at home as soon as possible.

“When a statutory service refuses to provide a piece of equipment under any circumstances, such as in Macy’s case, it is potentially an unlawful blanket ban and is often used as a way to manage budgets. This leaves families with no choice but to turn to charities for help.

“However, as much as we would love to help Macy, we simply don’t have the funds right now. We are urgently asking local people and businesses to make a donation or fundraise to help her, as soon as possible.”

To help Macy urgently contact Newlife on 01543 431 444, visit the website at www.newlife.support/HelpMacy or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk. You can also text NEWLIFE Macy to 70500 to give £10 to Macy’s appeal. Newlife will receive 100% of your donation. Texts cost £10 plus 1 message at your standard network rate. Always get the bill payers permission.

*STOP PRESS: Thanks to a great community effort and lots of media support we have now raised enough money for Macy’s walking frame.  However, you can still donate to help the other 47 children on our waiting list in the East Midlands who need £87,597 of specialist equipment.  If you are able to help please call 01543 431 444, visit the website at https://newlifecharity.co.uk or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk