Wiktoria ‘happy to be home’ after US operation trip, 1 Dec 2011
by Andrew Harris, Blairgowrie Advertiser
BRAVE Coupar Angus girl Wiktoria Mucha – who is recuperating after receiving life-changing surgery in the US – this week told the Blairie of her happiness at being home.
Along with parents Tomasz and Aneta, Wiktoria spent seven weeks at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri receiving two major surgeries to improve her mobility, following damage caused by cerebral palsy.
“It’s great to be home,” Wiktoria said. “I’m much happier now.”
Relieved mum Aneta said she was elated to see how much more content her daughter was after receiving the operation and getting home.
//'); //]]> “You can see just how much happier she is now,” she said. “Wiktoria is able to sit down and stretch to her toes when before she had very limited mobility.
“She is also now walking on a treadmill two times a day for 15 minutes, which is incredible.”
Aneta added that Wiktoria’s balance had “vastly” improved and said she “hoped she will be able to walk independently in the future”.
Mechanic dad Tomasz said the experience over in the US was “no holiday” and was impressed by his daughter’s courage.
“Wiktoria was amazing,” he said. “It was a case of going back and forward from our accommodation to the hospital every day which was very boring for her but she was very strong throughout.”
The Muchas met six other families from the UK at the hospital, who were all there for the same pioneering ‘selective dorsal rhizotomy’ (SDR) procedure.
“We will be keeping in touch with some of the families because we all shared a very stressful experience,” added Tomasz.
After a massive fundraising effort by the people of East Perthshire raised £28,000 for the £40,000 procedure, former chairman of Coupar Angus Community Council, Ann Campbell, said the seven week ordeal was made “more stressful” by a visa delay prior to the family setting off.
“They flew out on the Thursday and were only told they had their visa on the Wednesday night,” explained Ann.
“This whole experience for them had been stressful enough for them without that.
“But thankfully it worked out in the end.”
Still too tired to attend Coupar Angus Primary School on a full-time basis, Wiktoria has gone back for three hours a week but hopes to return permanently in the new year.
“I like being back,” said Wiktoria. “Even learning maths!”
Mrs Campbell said Wiktoria’s plight had captured the hearts of Coupar Angus locals.
“This has really brought the community together,” she said.
Wiktoria will have the honour of switching on the Christmas lights in her home town on Friday, December 2.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have sent helped raise the funds for us,” Aneta said.
A presentation of £7000 was made to the Mucha family on Sunday from St Stephen’s Church in Blairgowrie, with £5000 of it coming from a charitable trust and the remaining £2000 from various efforts by members of the congregation.
BRAVE Coupar Angus girl Wiktoria Mucha – who is recuperating after receiving life-changing surgery in the US – this week told the Blairie of her happiness at being home.
Along with parents Tomasz and Aneta, Wiktoria spent seven weeks at St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri receiving two major surgeries to improve her mobility, following damage caused by cerebral palsy.
“It’s great to be home,” Wiktoria said. “I’m much happier now.”
Relieved mum Aneta said she was elated to see how much more content her daughter was after receiving the operation and getting home.
//'); //]]> “You can see just how much happier she is now,” she said. “Wiktoria is able to sit down and stretch to her toes when before she had very limited mobility.
“She is also now walking on a treadmill two times a day for 15 minutes, which is incredible.”
Aneta added that Wiktoria’s balance had “vastly” improved and said she “hoped she will be able to walk independently in the future”.
Mechanic dad Tomasz said the experience over in the US was “no holiday” and was impressed by his daughter’s courage.
“Wiktoria was amazing,” he said. “It was a case of going back and forward from our accommodation to the hospital every day which was very boring for her but she was very strong throughout.”
The Muchas met six other families from the UK at the hospital, who were all there for the same pioneering ‘selective dorsal rhizotomy’ (SDR) procedure.
“We will be keeping in touch with some of the families because we all shared a very stressful experience,” added Tomasz.
After a massive fundraising effort by the people of East Perthshire raised £28,000 for the £40,000 procedure, former chairman of Coupar Angus Community Council, Ann Campbell, said the seven week ordeal was made “more stressful” by a visa delay prior to the family setting off.
“They flew out on the Thursday and were only told they had their visa on the Wednesday night,” explained Ann.
“This whole experience for them had been stressful enough for them without that.
“But thankfully it worked out in the end.”
Still too tired to attend Coupar Angus Primary School on a full-time basis, Wiktoria has gone back for three hours a week but hopes to return permanently in the new year.
“I like being back,” said Wiktoria. “Even learning maths!”
Mrs Campbell said Wiktoria’s plight had captured the hearts of Coupar Angus locals.
“This has really brought the community together,” she said.
Wiktoria will have the honour of switching on the Christmas lights in her home town on Friday, December 2.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the people who have sent helped raise the funds for us,” Aneta said.
A presentation of £7000 was made to the Mucha family on Sunday from St Stephen’s Church in Blairgowrie, with £5000 of it coming from a charitable trust and the remaining £2000 from various efforts by members of the congregation.
