Originally published in the Herald Sun, 10 April 2020 
Article by Alanah Frost
Images by Alex Coppel

Marcus Sian is in awe of his new-found abilities.

The youngster contracted a rare disease known as transverse myelitis when he was eight months old, which left him with paralysis in parts of his body.

“By the time we got to The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) he was paralysed from the neck down and was virtually a ragdoll,” Mum Jessica Sian says.

“It was the most terrifying time.”

But thanks to an innovative team of surgeons at the RCH, Marcus can now walk, run and play on his own.

“He’s turned into a very, very different child,” Ms Sian says.

“He’s walking literally everywhere on his own, everywhere. He can run, he can ride his bicycle, he’s learning to play tennis at school.

“This time last year he wasn’t able to stand steady on his own. We wouldn’t have dreamt of him being able to ride a bike or play tennis.

“We wouldn’t have come this far without that surgery and everything else the hospital has done.”