21st birthday milestone for pioneering Kayley

When young Navan woman, Kayley Dunne, celebrates her 21st birthday later this month, it will be a very special occasion not just for her family but also for the many people who remember Kayley's very special dream at the age of six.

The Help Kayley Walk campaign raised funds to enable little Kayley travel to the US in 2010 for pioneering surgery, which allowed her ditch the wheelchair she used as a small child.

Now furthering her education, enjoying life, and well able to walk, albeit with the aid of crutches, Kayley goes to the gym, loves music and movies, and has a boyfriend.

“I will always be grateful to the people who donated and fundraised. It was absolutely incredible the amount of support you gave me and my family,” says Kayley. “It was life changing and allowed me to walk.”

“Life is really great now, although I use crutches and have some struggles now and again. I am improving every day. I go to the gym to work on my muscles and it is also great for my mental health. I am walking constantly and am proud of all my accomplishments.”

Kayley is studying with the National Learning Network and is considering careers in psychology or office administration. “I am experimenting with careers on work experience as part of my college course.

Her 21st birthday will be a special time for Kayley, her parents Jacky Dunne and Keith Gaule and her sister, Emily, who are grateful for all the support they received over the years.

When she was six Kayley could not stand independently or walk without assistance. She suffered from Spastic Diplegia, a form of Cerebral Palsy. As her condition would worsen as she grew, her parents decided to bring her to the United States to undergo a procedure called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, which could radically change her life and make her future much brighter. It would enable her to walk with crutches and live a much more normal life, as well as reducing pain and discomfort.

At the time, Kayley had stiffness and tightness in her lower extremities and she had trouble doing the simple things most people take for granted.

Kayley was born in January 2004 at full-term, following a very quick labour of two hours in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda. Late into the delivery, it was realised something was wrong and the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.

Kayley was unresponsive when she was born, but was resuscitated and spent her first week in special care.

“Some months later, I realised something was wrong. Her little legs tended to tighten for no reason and she seemed unable to master the early milestones such as rolling and sitting up,” recalls Jacky.

At five months, her parents took her to a paediatrician and, eventually at 18 months after an MRI scan, she was diagnosed with Spastic Diplegia.

They started to research her condition and came across a hospital in St Louis, Missouri, which carried out Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). This operation involves cutting the nerves in the back that cause the abnormal tone in the legs and which would permanently reduce the spasticity in her lower limbs.

The family got in touch with the St Hospital in Missouri and sent scans, medical notes and even DVD footage of her movement to the medical staff there and doctors at the hospital agreed surgery would be a real help to her, would increase her mobility and reduce pain and discomfort.

A major fundraising drive took place with events such as a pole dancing exhibition, concerts by various local artists, a barbecue, comedy nights, bag packing days and cake sales and a parachute among others.

Kayley had her surgery in 2010 and made a great recovery and the last time she sat in her wheelchair was when she was eight years old.

Mum Jacky recalls the generosity of people at the time and will always be grateful for the support the family received.

“It was a difficult time. The HSE were very disapproving of us taking her to the US, but the surgery is now available in a number of hospitals in England and I believe that it will soon be offered here in Ireland,” she said.

Kayley is a very determined young women and when she found the HSE wasn't providing the physiotherapy she needed so went to a personal trainer and later worked in the gym herself.

A former student of St Oliver's National School and Colaiste na Mi, she has been furthering her education with LMETB and the National Learning Network.

“She is doing well, she is happy in herself and is learning to be independent.”

Kayley will celebrate her milestone birthday in Clarke’s of Bridge Street on 22nd February.

“We would love if those of you who supported us over the years, would like to drop in and see the young lady she has become now, you would be most welcome.”

“So many of our fantastic Navan people helped and she wouldn't be where she is today, not a wheelchair in sight, without all of you who helped us. Your help has been so appreciated,” Jacky said.