SDR Surgery Really Does Change Lives

Cerebral Palsy Jun 11, 2026

If you only read one post on this blog, make it this one, because this blog only exists thanks to SDR.

SDR stands for Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy — spinal neurological surgery that reduces the spasticity (tightness) cerebral palsy causes in my legs. Mummy and Daddy started sharing my journey online when they decided I should have it, so other families could see what it's really like and find it a little less scary.

The decision

It wasn't simple. Because I have hemiplegia, it counts as a complication, and we had to fight for our YES. We were even advised against the surgery because it could expose dystonia. Mummy and Daddy listened carefully, asked lots of questions… and decided to go for it anyway. Spoiler: it's been the best thing ever for my development.

I had my surgery at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in November 2022, just before I turned five. I actually had my 5th birthday on the ward — with a full party, cake and a live singer 🎤. The team at Alder Hey treated me like a grown-up at every appointment, asking me the questions, not just Mummy and Daddy.

Walking through the Alder Hey atrium with Daddy

The hard work

SDR isn't a quick fix — the surgery just makes the hard work possible. After it came two years of intensive rehabilitation: physiotherapy three or four times a week, almost weekly visits to the hospital for over 18 months, plus all the home exercises.

My rehab didn't go to plan, either. About a year in, my epilepsy became really difficult and we lost around six months to it. But here's the thing — at my 2-year review the physiotherapist said she wouldn't have known we'd lost that time if we hadn't told her.

The results

Numbers tell the story best:

Before surgery I could stand independently for about 3 seconds. Within 18 months it was 30 seconds (once, when asked to do 10, I did seventeen just to prove a point 😈).
18 months after surgery I walked 22 independent steps for the first time.
Two and a half years after surgery, I walked independently across my school hall in front of 120 kids and all the staff to collect a sticker from my head teacher — and walked back. The whole school cheered, and some teachers had watery eyes.
Before surgery, Mummy and Daddy had to physically force my legs straight to get my gaiters on. Now they just say "nice relaxed straight legs" and I can do it myself.

Gaiter time on the sofa — made bearable by Mario Kart

Independent walking was never even the goal — my physiotherapy aims to maintain range of movement and build stamina. I just like to overachieve 🥰.

Honest bits

SDR hasn't made cerebral palsy go away. I still have very tight hamstrings, I may need more surgery as I grow, and there are still ups and downs — weeks where my legs are achy and stiff and my walking goes back to a crouch. Keeping my flexibility and strength will be a lifetime's work. But without SDR, the deterioration by now doesn't bear thinking about — and the gains we're making were never thought possible.

We were lucky to have Dee Clarkson at ABC Physiotherapy — my physiotherapist (and one of my very best friends) since I was 18 months old — fighting alongside us for the surgery, and an amazing team for the rehabilitation afterwards: Alder Hey, Hull Royal Infirmary, MOTIONrehab and Midlands Children's Physio. If you're considering SDR for your child: ask the questions, build your team, and prepare for a lot of hard work — it's worth it.

#SDRchangesLives 💚