Campaign to help Emi stay on her feet

A FUNDRAISER is underway to help a Bacchus Marsh girl who needs surgery to prevent her from becoming paralysed has been.

Ten-year-old Emeliah Flenley, or Emi, is also a prime example of the sort of children that the Good Friday Appeal aims to help.

Emi’s young life has been dominated by tough medical challenges and time at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

Born with severe scoliosis, an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine, Emi is no stranger to serious medical procedures and she’s now facing more serious surgeries.

Emi is being raised by single mum Tjanna Roberts alongside two siblings with special needs, and the family could use all the support they can get.

At just two years old Emi underwent her first major spinal surgery to correct a tethered spinal cord but despite years of casting, bracing and ongoing treatment, her curvature worsened and the pain became overwhelming.

Walking even short distances became too difficult and she relied on a wheelchair.

At age six, Emi spent months in hospital undergoing halo gravity traction followed by the insertion of growth rods designed to gradually straighten her spine as she grew, and for a time they helped.

“But the doctors have now discovered that the rods have failed,” Ms Roberts said.

“Her spine has tethered around them, making it unsafe for them to remain in place and she now urgently requires the rods to be removed.

“Everything went downhill really quickly. We went for a check-up a couple of months ago to find her spine around the rods and we have been told the surgery is needed to prevent the risk of her becoming a quadriplegic.”

The family has been told that Emi also needs insertion of new rods, a full spinal fusion and rib surgery to break and reshape ribs that are pressing against her lungs.

Doctors warn that without the surgery within the next three to 12 months, Emi faces a very high risk of permanent paralysis.

Anyone keen to help can find the GoFundMe campaign at gofundme.com/f/help-emeliah-stay-on-her-feet.