The First Ever UK SDR Party

Every morning since we have arrived back from the USA I have had to wake the children up for school.  Today is Saturday so no need to rush out of bed plus it's going to be a late night for the girls......  Nothing is as simple as that in our household.  Abigail chooses today to wake the earliest she has ever done since returning home.  She then spends the rest of the day arguing or in floods of tears.  My little pet is utterly exhausted. We did our stretches and a work out on the treadmill before we set off for the first ever UK SDR Party which was being held in Daventry.  We did our best to persuade Abigail to have a nap but this is Abigail's worst nightmare.  She is totally allergic to sleeping during the daytime!!!

It took us a while for Abigail to walk from our hotel room to the actual party room but she was so excited she didn't complain at all. It was so nice to meet the families I have been in contact with for so long but had never actually met in person until now. There were 27 post op children and 11 pre op children present.

My Entrance - Using Pods

Look at all These People !!!

There were two very special guests Mad Mike the physio and Joan Puglisi (another physio and a dear lady who works very closely with Dr Park). Joan has only just retired after being at St Louis for over 25 years. It was terribly emotional for them to see all these children and their families who had travelled thousands of miles for this life changing surgery, in one room, and be able to see the progress each of the children were making.

Joan

Mad Mike

Abigail thoroughly enjoyed herself dancing and socialising with the families.  Offering her words of wisdom to the families that are considering or who are booked in for their surgeries in the coming months.  I heard her talking to the Mums and telling them they would get through it. Of course she and I were recognised from our TV appearance that lots of the SDR families had tuned in to watch.

Mad Mike had Abi up on the dance floor doing all sorts of groovy moves including ..............HEAD STANDS!!!!!  This did make me more than a little nervous!!!!!!

Head Stand

Seeing some of these boys and girls up and dancing that could never even stand before was utterly amazing.

Mad Mike Dancing with Abigail

Mad Mike Dancing with my friend Yasmin

The Residents Inn, St Louis that we stayed in donated a Cake for the event and that was lovely.

The organisers had done a fantastic poster which included all of the post op children to present to Mike.  Each child was presented with a certificate of bravery for undergoing the SDR operation. Abigail's is now framed and awaiting her Daddy's DIY skills to get it on her bedroom wall.  Abigail and Talia also received a chocolate presentation.

Dr Park sent a gift to each child he had operated on.  Abigail's gift was an iTunes voucher and a video containing her pre op physio and post op physio assessments.  I'm going to watch these very closely in 6 months time when the changes will be much more noticeable.  These touches were priceless! The band playing the music was fabulous and it was a splendid, splendid evening.  Next year Dr Park says he will attend, how much better can it get!!!!

Mad Mike and His Wife Enjoying Time with Friends

Abigail at nearly Midnight Going Strong

Making New Friends..