Advertisement

Little boy desperate to walk heads to US for pioneering surgery

A Gold Coast boy will receive long-awaited surgery for a rare bone condition in his leg thanks to the kindness of strangers.

William Dickinson, 3, was born with a disorder known as congenital pseudathorsis, which affects bone growth in his right leg.

In July last year, William's mum Aimee said all the boy's family wanted was "to see him walk comfortably, unaided and be with his friends and run".

"Like all his friends do," she said.

"It'd just be like winning the lotto."

Aimee Dickinson with her son William. Source: Facebook/ Aimee Dickinson
Aimee Dickinson with her son William. Source: Facebook/ Aimee Dickinson

William needs surgery on his leg and the only Australian options involved having the leg amputated. But his family found another possibility: taking him to a doctor in Florida to save his leg through limb reconstruction.

Unfortunately, the surgery costs $185,000.

The three-year-old's family started a GoFundMe page, and now have raised enough money to get William the surgery he needs to save his leg.

"We did it, I can't believe it," Ms Dickinson told News Corp.

  • Two men arrested over brutal Queensland road rage

  • Boy with rare one-in-a-million disease surprised with heartwarming birthday party

  • Outrage as monster crocodile dies days after it was seen with a tangled tail

The little boy was born with a rare condition affecting bone growth in his right leg. Source: 7 News
The little boy was born with a rare condition affecting bone growth in his right leg. Source: 7 News

"It got scary toward the end when we'd got to January and we had flights books for March but all of a sudden everything came together."

Ms Dickinson and her little boy will fly to Florida next month. Dr Dror Paley will perform a nine-hour surgery on William.

Surgery on William's leg costs $185,000. Source: Facebook/ Amy Dickinson
Surgery on William's leg costs $185,000. Source: Facebook/ Amy Dickinson

It will involve removing bone from his hip to his leg to fix a break, which never healed.

Ms Dickinson thanked the support of Southport Lions Club, the Gold Coast Community Fund and the I Can I Will children's charity along with the media who created awareness of William's condition.

Ms Dickinson will now be able to take William to the US for surgery. Source: Facebook/ Aimee Dickinson
Ms Dickinson will now be able to take William to the US for surgery. Source: Facebook/ Aimee Dickinson