THE family of Anglesey youngster Riley Wise have spoken of their gratitude to the people who helped raise money for his life changing operation.
Riley, aged five, of Moelfre, returned to the family’s Anglesey home last week after spending Christmas in the St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, where he underwent a pioneering operation to save him from life in a wheelchair.
Riley, whose moving Christmas wish was to be able to walk, suffers from Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy and needed the operation to help him walk unaided in the future.
Generous donations from people across Gwynedd and Anglesey helped the family raise the £45,000 needed for the procedure.
Jo Wise, Riley’s mum, said the family had been touched by all the support they received.
“We cannot thank the community enough,” she said.
Mrs Wise also added that indications so far suggest that the operation has been a success.
“Riley has just starting lifting his feet,” she said.
“He has made such an improvement in the space of a week.”
Riley must now undergo an intensive period of physiotherapy as he learns to walk for what is effectively the first time however it is hoped he will be back at his school, Ysgol y Bont, in the coming months and able to walk unaided this time next year.
The family, who intend to celebrate a belated Christmas back home, have also spoken of their desire to continue raising funds for other disadvantaged youngsters on the Island