Gillie was born with cerebral palsy which caused the muscles in his legs to tighten and twist inwards.

As he grew, Gillie’s condition worsened. He couldn’t walk without falling over and was likely to be wheelchair bound by the time he was 18 years old.

When regular physiotherapy and injections to relax Gillie’s muscles were no longer effective, RCH doctors recommended delicate neurosurgery which is so rare, it’s only conducted once every two years at the hospital.

Gillie’s surgery and 12 months of rehabilitation were successful — he’s now walking unassisted for the first time in his life.