A YOUNG BOY with cerebral palsy who had a life-altering surgery to get him walking on his feet was set back after he broke his foot in four places.

The brave 10-year-old, Ciaran Cerretelli, had spinal surgery in 2018 at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, where his nerves were cut so he could walk on his own two feet,

After a lot of physiotherapy sessions, which he will have to do for the rest of his life, his walking improved. But nine weeks ago, when he was playing in the Showfield Park, Royal Wootton Bassett, he was pushed and broke his foot.

Ciaran said: "Me and my friends were all waiting for the rope ride in the park, there wasn't a lot of room to wait on the platform so I was waiting on the edge. I was pushed and fell off, my foot started hurting instantly, I was quite upset because I was worried I wasn't going to be able to go to school.

"I had to have x-rays and they put my leg and foot into a boot. But it meant I missed physio, which helps me to walk, it's really good at helping me."

His mum, Sarah, of Springfield Crescent, has found it difficult this past year not to be able to send her son to physio because of the coronavirus restrictions, and now he has had to miss out for another two months.

She said: "His physiotherapy will be for the rest of his life, if he doesn't do it then his muscles and joints will seize up and makes it harder for him to walk or do anything for himself.

"He does one session a month with Virgin Care, and then I pay for two private sessions because one session isn't enough. It's expensive, it all adds up especially as he has splints to make him more stable, and I have to pay for three lots of shoes every six weeks for him to wear them. It's very costly.

"Despite the child being told not to push Ciaran because he has cerebral palsy, he did anyway, but he has since sent a letter to apologise.

"It has caused a problem with him being stiff and achy because he's missed so much physio. He's having to learn to walk again without being in too much pain. I think it's so important we teach people about disabilities, especially ones that are invisible. Ciaran just wants more children and adults to be aware."

His school, Longleaze Primary School, is planning to put on a Disability Awareness Week to educate the students on various disabilities, including cerebral palsy.

And his aunties - Charlotte and Josie - launched a fundraiser to give financial support to Sarah and Ciaran, to unburden them of the cost of physiotherapy for the foreseeable future.

To donate visit gofund.me/8362d7c2