IF everything goes to plan, little Alexia-Rose is just months away from booking a date for life-altering surgery in America to help her walk.

For the past 19 months, parents Toby and Emily Sinclair, of Weeley, have been on a mission to raise £75,500 to fund SDR – selective dorsal rhizotomy – surgery as well as the related costs to help their daughter’s cerebral palsy.

Alexia-Rose, now aged three, was born prematurely with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy, which severely limits her movement and co-ordination.

The SDR surgery will drastically improve her muscle stiffness.

As well as suffering painful muscle spasms, Alexia-Rose is unable to sit up and stand unaided, is visually impaired and has epilepsy, experiencing up to 50 seizures a day.

Six weeks ago she underwent a seven-hour double hip reconstruction at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge.

Mum Emily, 35, of Weeley, said: “It was absolutely horrendous – I never want to see her go through it again. “There were wires everywhere and tubes in her neck. I ran out of the hospital room crying.

“That’s why we’re so desperate to get the SDR operation because it will take the spasticity away and stop the need for major operations in the future.

“Both of her hips were displaced so the socket and joint didn’t fit properly.

“The first three weeks were really hard, but with all the physiotherapy, she can now sit much better, not by herself, but everyone has commented on how much more stable and steady she is. So far so good.”

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Always smiling - Alexia-Rose and mum Emily Sinclair

A series of sponsored challenges, events and donations has raised £60,311 on Alexia-Rose’s online Go Fund Me page.

The next event – Busking For Alexia – organised by family friends Peggy and Lawrie Salkeld, and Clacton Town Partnership, takes place this Saturday, in Clacton town centre.

As well as folk musicians performing live at “busking points” at Nancy’s Kitchen, in High Street, and Edinburgh Woollen Mill, in Pier Avenue, there will be bucket collections across town.

Therapists are working with Alexia-Rose to strengthen her upper body until a date is booked for the youngster’s operation.

She has daily hydrotherapy sessions after enough money was raised railed for a special pool to be installed at her home, and private physiotherapy three times a week.

Emily said: “I never thought I would say it, but as a family we live minute by minute, hour by hour and day by day.

“Apart from when her seizures are bad because they drain her energy, she’s a really happy child, and being at physio is like a playground for a child.

“She has totally changed us as parents – we take nothing for granted anymore.

“We were told she wouldn’t walk or talk so everything she does makes us so proud.”