- Jacob and Jordan Cook born prematurely at 28 weeks in December 2008
- Differences became apparent when Jacob failed to make baby targets
- Jacob from Oxford diagnosed with cerebral palsy when six-months-old
- Parents raised £65,000 to send him to America for operation
- Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy procedure cut nerves in spinal cord that are sending the
wrong messages to legs
14:46 EST, 8 June 2014
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14:48 EST, 8 June 2014
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A five-year-old boy is following in his twin brother’s footsteps after undergoing surgery to ‘put the magic back’ into his legs – enabling him to walk.
Jacob Cook wanted to chase after his identical sibling Jordan but was unable even to sit up after being diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was just six-months old.Â
The boys were born prematurely at 28 weeks in December 2008 and the differences between them became apparent when Jacob failed to achieve targets expected of babies.
Boisterous boys: Twins Jordan and Jacob Cook, 5, seem like any normal pair of boys but Jacob was diagnosed with cerebral palsy on the day he was discharged from hospital, unable to walk
The son has got his hat on: Jacob in the intensive care unit as a premature baby a few hours after his birth in December 2008
His condition was managed with physiotherapy until his parents raised £65,000 to go to America for an operation which is not routinely available on the NHS.
Now Jacob can walk with the aid of a frame and is finally playing games with his brother.
The boys’ mother, Lucy Fletcher of Summertown, Oxford, said: ‘When they were born, they weighed less than 6lb between them.
‘They were rushed to special care but considering how early they were they were quite healthy for their age.
‘We were in hospital with them for two months and on the day we left they gave both Jacob and Jordan routine brain scans.
Mother’s pride: Lucy Fletcher and son Jacob in hospital. Jacob and Jordan were born prematurely at 28 weeks
The Cook family: father Scott, Jordan, Jacob and their mother Lucy Fletcher at home in Oxford
Jacob wanted to be able to play like his brother but his condition prevented him until his parents raised £65,000 to send him to the US for an operation that is not readily available on the NHS
‘They found Jacob had two cysts on his brain. We had made it and somehow they had both survived, so it was a huge blow.’
Doctors monitored Jacob’s condition and despite initially making good process, his development slowed.
Although his eyes were tracking correctly and he’d learned to roll over like his brother Jordan, he was soon flagging behind.
Further tests revealed Jacob was suffering from cerebral palsy – an incurable condition that causes mobility and breathing difficulties.
Lucy, 26, said: ‘Jacob was around six-months-old and he couldn’t sit up. That’s when he started missing the milestones.
Jacob Cook riding his bike near his home in Oxford. Jacob was diagnosed with cerebral palsy on the day he was discharged from hospital, unable to walk
Jacob Cook, red t-shirt, and Jordan in a green t-shirt gardening on the decking in their home in Oxford, two months ago
‘We got the diagnosis that it was cerebral palsy. I was a bit in denial as I wanted to believe everything was fine.
‘When I look back at pictures now, I can see his hands are always tight but as a first-time mum, I didn’t know the difference.’
As Jacob and Jordan grew up, Jacob’s cognitive abilities matched his brother’s yet they were unable to run around and play together.
Doctors managed his condition with regular physiotherapy until an operation became available in the US to help him walk.
Jordan and Jacob Cook, 5, at home in Oxford, playing with their toy fire engine and bus
Jacob Cook at a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy party in March this year for all families who have had, or are going for the operation
The Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy procedure sees surgeons cut the nerves in the spinal cord that are sending the wrong messages to the legs, in turn strengthening Jacob’s legs.
His father Scott Cook, 32, said: ‘He’s always been cognitively fine so his speech developed normally but he never learned to crawl or walk. He’s very behind.
‘Jordan has brought him on more than anyone because he’s always got his little playmate and he’s always there helping him to do his physio.
The twins in their Jacob’s 1st steps t-shirt (left), and Jacob (right) learning to ride a horse after his operation in the US
Standing tall: Twins Jordan and Jacob Cook at home in Oxford. Jacob was diagnosed with cerebral palsy on the day he was discharged from hospital
‘We had to
raise £65,000 – £45,000 was for surgery and then we needed money for
rehab and physiotherapy following the operation.’Â
The family travelled to St Louis in Missouri, US, in June 2013, where Jacob’s surgery was successful.
‘The care was brilliant,’ said Lucy. ‘We were looked after really well.
‘Jacob didn’t fully understand what would happen but we told him that the doctor would put magic back into his legs to try to make them work.
‘We want him to be aware of what was happening, but we didn’t want him to be disappointed if it didn’t work.
‘He has asked the question ‘why am I not like Jordan?’ but I just explain that he was poorly as a baby. We have brought him up to believe he’s got to get on with it.’
Since the surgery last year, both Jacob and Jordan have started school, and despite Jacob needing daily physiotherapy, they can now both walk around together as brothers.
‘He’s never really been jealous of Jordan, which is nice,’ Lucy added. ‘He’s been good at getting Jordan to help him and now he’s at school he gets all the girls to get him what he wants too.
‘It’s been very busy, and it’s hard work, but he’s definitely made a lot of progress.
‘He once had no mobility but he’s worked really hard at his physio and he never complains and he gets on just fine.’
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.
one mans opinion,
Slave Lake Alberta,
1 hour ago
What a great gift! My Wife has CP and didn’t walk till she was 7 1/2-8. The things that she can do blow my mind. Gave birth to two children naturally too!. Now the world is this little mans’ oyster. Go get em tiger; there is nothing holding you back now!
CJones,
NWales,
2 hours ago
Very glad, great news for Jacob. A national disgrace that the operation was not available on the NHS.
Magpie,
Plymouth, United Kingdom,
2 hours ago
What a lovely family. All the very best to them.
Sosowrong….,
England,
2 hours ago
You can do it little man! What an achievement, so glad his parent fought so hard to get him treatment that he should be able to receive here. Gorgeous boys.
ElizabethA,
Bristol, United Kingdom,
3 hours ago
This is a beautifully uplifting story. It is wonderful to read how the boys help each other. I did like the explanation of the operation. It sounds as though Jacob is a natural at getting the help he needs from those around him. What a lovely family.
Zoebear,
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
Made me cry! What a brave little boy!
angeli,
LONDON,
4 hours ago
Lovely story I would like to wish the family the very best of luck for the future.
keith lewis,
maidstone, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
Just goes to show what wonderful things that can be achieved in the medical field nowadays. Just a pity that a lot of money had to be raised to achieve the results!
Becky,
Lytham St. Annes,
4 hours ago
Absolutely wonderful – what a dire shame some NHS Trusts choose free boob jobs for wannabe glamour models over deserving life-changing cases like this. Lovely family.
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