THE family of a youngster from Eastburn who urgently needs an operation to enable him to walk are celebrating after being given a date for this vital procedure.

They were told the surgery for four-year-old Ajay Ramos should take place in the children's hospital at Leeds General Infirmary next month.

Commenting at the end of last week, (Aug 10) Ajay's mother Tania said she was delighted with the news.

"Today we had the most amazing phone call," she said.

"Ajay is booked in for life-changing surgery at Leeds Children’s Hospital on September 20.

"We do still have lots of fundraising to do to pay for Ajay’s post-op physio. Thank you so much to everyone who’s helped us so far on this rollercoaster of a journey.

"There is still quite a long way for us to go, but for now we’re taking an evening off to celebrate."

As reported in the Keighley News in July, Ajay's family have been told the surgery itself will be funded by the NHS.

But they, their friends and supporters must still collect thousands of pounds to fund intensive post surgery treatment for Ajay, who was born nine weeks premature and cannot stand or walk independently.

The physiotherapy, which is needed to help ensure the long-term success of the surgery, is expected to cost about £400 per month for at least seven years.

Ajay has spastic diplegia, which is a form of cerebral palsy. People with this condition have constant tightness or stiffness in the muscles of their lower body, including the muscles in their legs.

Ajay attends Wingate Nursery, off Fell Lane, Keighley, but can currently only move around by crawling or by using a wheeled walking frame.

He suffered a serious seizure while at his nursery at the end of May and had to be rushed to hospital, though since then his health has improved.

His September 20 operation in Leeds is called selective dorsal rhizotomy, (SDR).

The NHS announced its plan to provide this type of treatment for patients aged three to nine-years-old, just days after it celebrated its 70th anniversary.

SDR is a procedure aimed at relieving tight and stiff muscles for cerebral palsy sufferers – particularly in children – which can cause movement and balance problems.

The treatment can allow children who were previously unable to walk to become mobile and independent.

People prepared to support the ongoing fundraising appeal, which is called Ajay's Wish To Walk, can visit just4children.org/children-helped2017/ajays-wish-to-walk/

They can also visit the campaign's Facebook page for updates on Ajay's condition and future, local money raising events.