CLASSIC NIGHT OUT: Big event planned to help little Odie
'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' by Whitney Houston, 'Don't Stop Believin' by Journey or 'When Doves Cry' by the one and only Prince.
Just some of the hit songs that helped light up the 1980s - and now the classics of that decade will feature in an '80s' Disco Fundraiser which will be held in aid of the 'Odie Wants to Walk' initiative at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dundalk on Saturday 27th April, 7.30.
The Odie in question is brave, little Odie (Odette) Devin, a beautiful, bright, five-year-old from Drogheda who has spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. This condition affects body movement, muscle control, muscle co-ordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. Although it is a permanent life-long condition, some of these signs can improve or worsen over time.
Now Odie's family aim to generate the funds needed to help the brave youngster deal with the condition and the many challenges she faces.
Odie's mother is Joan Devin, who until recently was a Midwifery student at Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk - a college where many students from Meath attend.
The Midwifery teams at DkIT and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda have joined forces to organise the fundraising night.
At the moment Odie is unable to walk without the assistance of her walker and cannot stand unsupported. At home she crawls on the floor or is carried. Her balance is poor and she needs assistance with all the normal daily activities; getting to the toilet, moving around, playing and dressing herself.
The spasticity, or tightness, in her legs can be very painful, and she does daily physiotherapy and stretching to try and reduce this. Odie also needs to wear leg splints to try and keep her muscles stretched into normal positions during the day.
In time, the spasticity in Odie's legs will increase, which means that her pain may also increase. There is also the possibility she will lose the ability to use her walker and will need a wheelchair.
However, there is now a window of opportunity to help Odie!
World-renowned neurosurgeon, Dr T. S. Park of St Louis Childrens' Hospital in Missouri, USA has evaluated Odie and considers her to be a candidate for selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) surgery. This amazging, life-changing surgery involved the cutting of nerves in the spine which connect the brain to the muscles in the legs in order to permanently reduce the tightness and pain, and allow the movement required for walking. It is not preformed in Ireland, and the HSE do not routinely fund this through the Hospital Treatment Abroad scheme.
In order to give Odie this chance, Joan and her family are attempting to raise the €100,000 required to cover the cost of the operation, therapy requirements, follow-up treatments and travel to and from the US. This is obviously a huge challenge for Joan and althoug close to €30,000 has already been raised, Joan's midwifery colleagues really want to increase this figure.
They would be immensely grateful if you would consider donating a sum of money to the the fund-raising '80s Disco Fundraiser so that they can offset costs and offer a significant boost to Odie's fund.
The organisers would be happy to have promotional material at this event which is expected to be attended business owners and managers, HeathCare managers and practitioners from across the region.
Tickets, at €50 for the '80s' Disco Fundraiser', can be acquired from 086-2483367. Included in the night's event is a 'Prosecco reception,' 'four-course meal', '80s themed fancy dress disco,' a raffle and prize for best costume.
The organisers sincerely thank all those who have supported the 'Odie Wants to Walk' project in anyway. They also thank in advance all those who may contribute to this cause.
All information about Odie's condition and medical interventions she needs can be found on: https://www.gofundme. com/odie-wants-to-walk or facebook.com/odiewantstowalk or stlouischildrens.org/our-services/center-cerebral-palsy-spastic/patient-selection.
All information about Odie’s cause and the medical interventions that she needs can be found in the following links.
https://www.gofundme.com/odie-wants-to-walk
https://www.facebook.com/odiewantstowalk/
http://www.stlouischildrens.org/our-services/center-cerebral-palsy-spasticity/patient-selection