Young boy returns home after elective surgery to help him walk

DIEPPE, N.B. – A young Dieppe resident is back home after spending nearly two months in Montreal undergoing surgery.

Caleb Gallant, 5, was born with cerebral palsy and had Selective Dorsal Rihzotomy or SDR surgery on his spinal cord on Oct. 16. He then spent seven weeks recovering at the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital.

He arrived home to Dieppe with his father early Saturday morning. Caleb spent the morning playing with his twin brother, Jacob, who had stayed behind in Dieppe. His grandparents also came over for a visit.

Jay Gallant, Caleb’s father, said his family had an excellent experience at the Shriner’s hospital.

“They tend to overlap two kids at once, so they get to play together,” he said, explaining that there were actually two other kids having the SDR surgery around the same time as Caleb. “You get to share stories with other parents, but all kids in this case are a bit different, so expectations are a bit different.”

Caleb’s parents have been sharing his journey on a Facebook page and have had some of their posts shared more than 7,000 times. Jay said he was overwhelmed by the response his family has been getting, but he hopes Caleb’s story will benefit others with cerebral palsy who may not know the surgery exists.

He said because the procedure is elective, patients and families have to ask for it themselves.

WATCH: Boy’s recovery from rare surgery inspiring others

Even though Caleb is back home, his journey is not over yet. He will be doing intense physiotherapy three times a week for the next six months and will also have to spend about an hour a day in a “stander” to help him get stronger.

Jay said he and his wife, Chantal, will also be working with Caleb on stretching and encouraging him to use his walker around the house.

“I noticed he’s more relaxed. His speech seems to flow a lot easier,” his grandfather, Rolly Gallant, told Global News.

Rolly hadn’t seen Caleb since Oct. 12, before the surgery, but he followed along with Caleb’s progress online.

“I think I cried every time I saw a write-up. Tears of joy,” he said. “It’s been just an amazing, amazing journey.”

Now that Caleb is back home, his parents’ lives will also calm down a bit. They had been swapping places every two weeks throughout Caleb’s recovery, with one staying in Montreal and one staying in Dieppe.

On Sunday, Dec. 7, friends of the family will be organizing a fundraiser for Caleb and his family. They are hoping to help with the cost of a strength-building bicycle, which Caleb needs as part of his intense physiotherapy.

The event will be held at the Moncton Press Club.