'It has changed her future' — family thank community for support given to Wiktoria Mucha
The parents of a brave Coupar Angus girl have thanked the local community for giving her a ''future to look forward to''.
Wiktoria Mucha with dad Tomasz, mum Aneta and brother Patrick.
- By Kirsten Johnson
- Published in the Courier : 09.01.12
- Published online : 09.01.12 @ 02.22pm
Wiktoria Mucha, who celebrates her 10th birthday this month, travelled to the United States in late September for a life-changing operation to help her walk.
Born with cerebral palsy, she relied on a wheelchair to get around and, as she grew, her tightening muscles were causing increased pain and further disability.
Thanks to the fundraising efforts of the people of east Perthshire, the primary school pupil attended St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri for surgery on her spinal nerves, hamstrings and heel chords.
The complex procedures, carried out by Dr TS Park, cost over £40,000 — an amount which Wiktoria's parents Tomasz and Aneta say they could never have paid alone.
Since returning home, the inspirational little girl has worked hard with physiotherapists to re-learn how to use her limbs and is making amazing progress.
Mr Mucha told The Courier: ''We are so proud of her. She has worked though discomfort and many difficulties and shown maturity well beyond her years.
''She goes back to school full-time this week, something she has really been looking forward to. She's already able to use crutches independently in the house and we hope soon she will be able to take them outside.''
He added: ''It was a scary time when we were over in America, as it was a big operation and we knew there were risks. But we are so happy we went through with it — it has changed Wiktoria's future.
''We cannot thank all the people who helped fundraise enough.''
Local people raised £28,000 towards the cost of the trip, while the family made up the shortfall by borrowing from family members.
Regular collections were held in St Stephen's Roman Catholic Church in Blairgowrie, St Mary's in Coupar Angus and St Luan's in Alyth.
Pupils at her own school, Coupar Angus Primary, and Blairgowrie High School also took part in a number of activities to generate cash.
Fundraising continues and Wiktoria is now preparing to attend an intensive three-week course at the Footsteps therapy centre in Oxford.
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