Unlike most newborn babies who make their way home from the hospital to begin adapting to their new life, Daxton Konink was sent to The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
An up and down heart rate, a lack of oxygen and seizures were the cause.
After a 16-day stint, the family headed home with an answer and a cerebral palsy diagnosis.
“They told us if he did survive he would have a limited chance at a normal life,” Krystal Konink, Daxton’s mother said.
“From then on he's been doing therapy. We did some research and educated ourselves on it and what supports are out there. This kid has been through every therapy under the sun and he’s only five.”
While doing their research, Krystal came across a surgery called Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening or SPML, a minimally invasive surgical treatment that helps relieve tightness caused by spasticity.
The results can help people with cerebral palsy with their range of movement and overall independence. Through videos of before and after that she’s watched, Konink says the transformation can be incredible.
“The surgery is life-changing from what we've seen,” she said.
“The kids can go from needing all the support to no support. We won’t believe it until we see it. Right now Daxton can take some independent steps but has poor balance.”
But there are a few issues with getting it done.
The first, the surgery isn’t offered in Canada.
The second is that the doctor who performs it in New Jersey is retiring at the end of August.
“We’ve progressed him a much as we can,” Konink, whose family currently resides in Kitchener, said.
“They said he's an excellent candidate for it and his surgery is scheduled for May 3.”
But it will come at a cost. Konink says the surgery alone is roughly $20,000 and that’s not including travel and expenses.
Not willing to let cost stand in the way, Konink’s sister Ashley who lives in Hespeler began a bottle drive in Cambridge to help out her sister, brother-in-law and nephew.
A GoFundMe has also been set up for people to donate.
To date the GoFundMe has raised $6,010 and the bottle drive $410.
Despite his challenges, Konink describes her son as a happy, charismatic and goofy jokester who has plenty of friends.
There are other fundraisers planned over the coming month, Konink says, but she wants people to know how appreciative their family is for everything the community has done.
“We appreciate the support from everyone,” she said.
“We’re excited for his next chapter.”
To view Daxton’s GoFundMe visit gofundme.com. Anyone interested in donating bottles can arrange pick up or drop off through the Fight for Daxton Facebook page.
