Being able to sit up on her own was next to impossible for 4-year-old Tosia Matuszewski.
Now, after a life changing medical procedure, she’s able to not only sit without assistance, but she can walk too.
In April, Tosia received a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy in St. Louis, Missouri – a surgery that’s helped many children with spastic Cerebral Palsy.
Her father Mark Matuszewski said the improvement is dramatic. “The difference is massive. Before surgery she could crawl and that was it. She couldn’t straighten up her legs. She couldn’t stand-up,” he said.
In order for Tosia to be completely mobile, there’s a follow-up procedure that will extend her calf muscles and hamstrings to help correct her posture and walking ability.
Today, her family held a garage sale to help pay for the surgery, which costs $15,000 dollars, including additional travel costs.
Over 100 people donated items to the garage sale. The support from the community has been overwhelming.
“We would just like to thank everyone from Lethbridge, for all the support. You know it means a lot to us,” Mark said.
Her family says Tosia would not be where she is today without her positive attitude. “You know she’s not the kind of child that falls and starts crying, she just gets up and does the same thing again,” he said.
The thought of his little girl being able to walk on her own is a dream he holds on to.
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