Brave tot's parents considered re-mortgaging their home
The parents of brave tot Jack McNaughton were set to remortgage their Perthshire home in a bid to fund his life-changing operation, The Courier can reveal.
Jack McNaughton.
- By Dave Lord
- Published in the Courier : 15.11.10
- Published online : 15.11.10 @ 03.55pm
Three-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Jack is set to have surgery at the famed St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri later this week.
If the operation is successful, Jack could walk unaided for the first time.
As the family spent the weekend settling down in the US ahead of the youngster's surgery, they took time out to reflect on a "quite incredible" year.
Mum Stacy (25) recalled the moment they discovered they would have to find £40,000 to fund the procedure, branding it "daunting."
All their fears were eventually put to rest after a story in The Courier sparked a massive response from the public, who eventually raised the astonishing sum of £73,000 — a total that is still rising.
However, it has not all been plain sailing for Stacy and Jack's dad Graham (30).
"We did look at remortgaging the family home at one point — we were just desperate to give Jack the chance of having the operation," Stacy told The Courier.
"It is hard to believe we are now at the stage of being just a few days away from the operation.
"Initially we had thought it might happen sometime toward the end of next year.
"That was the timescale we had set for finding the funds required.
Remarkable
"So to be preparing for it now is quite remarkable really."
Stacy said Jack's story had captured the imagination of the public.
"I suppose people can see exactly where the money is going and precisely what it could achieve," she said.
"That transparency perhaps encouraged people to be so generous."
Stacy hopes Jack's case may now inspire others.
"As a family we are still amazed by what we have achieved so far," she said.
"We hope what we have done may help others out.
"We now want to spread the word about this treatment as it could bring hope to the parents of children like Jack."
Jack is set to undergo selective dorsal rhizotomy treatment in the States.
If the operation is a success he could be walking within four months.
The family is set to return to their Almondbank home for Christmas.
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