Sick Kids offers new lease of life to paralysed Georgian boy

Published on Thursday 18 November 2010 14:46

YOUNG Datuna Valishvili had as miserable a start in life as you can possibly imagine.

ALL SMILES: Datuna Valishvili will have a metal rod inserted into his spine to stop it curving any further; right, an X-ray; below, with the medical team

The nine-year-old Georgian was left paralysed from the waist down when he fell out of a window at the age of just two. His mother, a prostitute, abandoned him, and he was left to beg in sub-zero temperatures on the streets of Tblisi.

However, now the youngster is to travel to Edinburgh for a life-changing operation, thanks to the generosity of well- wishers and doctors at the Sick Kids Hospital.

Datuna's luck first changed at the age of four, when he was taken to an orphanage and discovered there by Edinburgh child abuse expert Madge Bray.

She decided to try to bring him to Edinburgh for surgery to straighten his spine and, after a determined fundraising campaign, Datuna is scheduled to arrive in the Capital in April.

Surgeons will insert a metal rod into his back, and while the treatment will not restore movement to his legs, it will stop his spine curving further.

Without the operation he could be bent double for the rest of his life, with his organs gradually becoming squashed.

Staff at the Sick Kids Hospital have volunteered to carry out the surgery in their own time to make sure NHS patients don't lose out.

The campaign has already raised 17,000, but more is needed to meet the full cost of Datuna's care, which includes 10,000 for the titanium rod in his back, and the cost of accommodation and care.

Ms Bray, who has run the campaign with the help of physiotherapist Fiona Lindsay, said: "This is a difficult operation, it's not something the Georgians can do."

She said she had been so moved when she first met Datuna that she felt she had to try to help him: "I did think it was going to be a struggle, but it's been an enormous joy. I made a decision that I want to do what I can and a lot of other people made the same decision.

"I've been overwhelmed by the generosity of people who said 'I can and I will'."

It will not be the youngster's first trip to Edinburgh - last year he visited to have a back brace fitted. He also visited youngsters from Thornlie Primary School in Wishaw, who have played a major part in the fundraising drive and befriended Datuna.

Clinical director of children's services for NHS Lothian, Dr Edward Doyle, said: "The Royal Hospital for Sick Children occasionally becomes involved with international cases on a humanitarian basis. Our staff have kindly offered to carry out the specialist surgery Datuna needs on a voluntary basis.

"The charitable team organising help for Datuna will fund the use of equipment and the surgical supplies required and we wish them well with their fundraising efforts."

• To donate to the appeal, contact [e-mail].