- Skye Swinton was refused spinal surgery treatment on the NHS
- Mother Ruth wrote to Chris and Colin Weir in desperation asking for help
- The couple generously agreed to share their £161million EuroMillions jackpot
- Little girl has now taken her first steps without sticks in time for Christmas
By
Daily Mail Reporter
18:53 EST, 29 December 2013
|
05:42 EST, 30 December 2013
This Christmas, Skye Swinton got exactly the gift she’d dreamed of – the chance to walk unaided for the first time.
The four-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, had life-changing spinal surgery paid for by Britain’s biggest lottery winners, Chris and Colin Weir.
Skye was refused the treatment on the NHS, so her mother Ruth wrote to the Weirs in desperation, asking for help to pay the £40,000 cost.
Skye Swinton from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, who has cerebral palsy walks for the first time unaided since having an operation funded by Britain’s biggest lottery winners
The four-year-old girl took her first steps – thanks to the generosity of Britain’s biggest lottery winners, Chris and Colin Weir
The couple generously agreed to share their £161million EuroMillions jackpot and Skye had the surgery in October – meaning she took her first steps without walking sticks just in time for Christmas.
Mrs Swinton, 39, said: ‘Seeing her walking with a smile on her face is the most amazing Christmas present. Her progress has been amazing.
‘In the past she could not walk properly on her own because she could only walk on the tips of her toes.
‘Now, she can get her heels on the ground and there is no stopping her.
‘She is absolutely loving it and wants to show off how well she can walk.’
Skye, who was born 13 weeks early weighing just 1lb 15oz, has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.
Her operation, a selective dorsal rhizotomy carried out at Bristol’s Frenchay Hospital, is new to the UK, but has been performed in the States for years.
The couple generously agreed to share their £161million EuroMillions jackpot and Skye had the surgery in October – meaning she took her first steps without walking sticks just in time for Christmas
Skye was refused the treatment on the NHS, so her mother Ruth (right) wrote to the Weirs in desperation, asking for help to pay the £40,000 cost
It involves partially cutting nerves where they join the spinal cord, in order to loosen the muscles.
Without it she would have remained confined to a wheelchair, and would have needed major corrective surgery in a few years.
Mr and Mrs Weir, of North Ayrshire, Scotland, became Britain’s biggest single jackpot winners in 2011.
They paid £28,000 towards the surgery after the Swinton family raised £12,000.
Mrs Swinton, a full-time carer for Skye who lives in Cheltenham with her husband John, said: ‘This will make a huge difference to Skye’s life.
‘In time, she will be able to take part in all the activities her peers are.’
In a statement, Mr and Mrs Weir said they hoped the donation would ease the family’s worries.
They said: ‘Skye faces many challenges in the next year.
‘Without the additional worry and pressure of fundraising, their time can be spent on Skye.’
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.
JC at home,
Costa del Clyde, United Kingdom,
8 hours ago
A very generous couple who have supported many charities and people over the years with their win.
johnnythrostle,
west midlands, United Kingdom,
8 hours ago
brilliant
Agent Smith,
S.Yorks, United Kingdom,
8 hours ago
Good on them, using money to make others happy.
Dragon1966,
London, United Kingdom,
8 hours ago
This is so very wrong. Not that Mr and Mrs Weir have helped – bless them for that – but that they had to in the first place. It seems the NHS can pay for foreigners, breast enhancements, cosmetic surgery but not to improve this poor girl quality of life. There is something so wrong with our society.
Still in bed,
West glam, United Kingdom,
8 hours ago
If I won that type of money then after I’d given friends and family a share I would help people who are struggling for money to pay for operations, and I’d also help people suffering with cancer etc to pay for their medications, after all you can’t take the money with you so why not share some of it out to the needy..
Francesca,
Leeds UK,
8 hours ago
Skye didn’t need a boob job, sex change or fertility treatment, she just needed the chance to be able to walk, so of course the NHS refused to foot the bill for her treatment. Best wishes to her and her benefactors.
glpl,
northants, United Kingdom,
8 hours ago
How can the NHS not pay? What sort of country is this? Remember when we were called GREAT Britain , and it was true?
townsey,
prudhoe, United Kingdom,
8 hours ago
£40,000 to enable this little girl to walk., its not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things but the nhs refused to cover the cost. shame on them, but bravo and well done to the lottery winners. yet migrants coming to this country get FREE nhs treatment. makes you think doesn’t it.
Bea,
Manchester,
8 hours ago
God bless you both such a lovely thing to do and may you continue the good work lovely genuine couple x
palerider77,
southampton,
9 hours ago
BEST NEW’S EVER. GOOD LUCK TO YOU LITTLE LADY.
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