Family's wish to see little Harry walk alongside twin

The pair battled through their first nine weeks of life in the special care baby unit at Shrewsbury Hospital and were thriving, when, at 18 months old, the family, from Codsall were given the devastating news that Harry was suffering from cerebral palsy.

Ms Morgan, 38, said: "For the first six months everything seemed great - lots of bottles, nappies and sleepless nights, but normal. Then we started to notice Harry wasn't meeting his milestones like Seren.

"As a mum I knew something wasn't quite right."

Told by doctors this was common with premature babies, by the time Harry was a year old he still could not sit up independently. At 18 months he was referred to a community paediatrician, and the parents were told their son may have Cerebral Palsy.

Devastated, they put on a brave face and started home physiotherapy sessions with their son.

The condition has left Harry, now three, unable to walk or stand and now the family is raising money for a life-changing operation in the hope that one day he will be able to kick a ball around in the backyard with his sister.

Harry suffers from spastic diplegia, meaning he has difficulty with muscle control, balance and co-ordination.

Ms Morgan said: "His legs have a tendency to be stiff and go rigid in extension. This makes simple things like crawling, cruising and even sitting very difficult for him. He is not able to walk or stand.

"He is a happy little chappy, always smiling and giggling. He loves cars, diggers and lorries like any other little boy. He has just started to talk, which is amazing to hear the words 'mummy' and 'daddy'."

They have started fundraising for a life-changing operation called selective dorsal rhizotomy, which will remove or reduce the spasticity in his legs, reducing muscle tightness allowing him to get his heels flat to the floor, helping him balance and eventually, walk independently.

A neuro-surgical procedure that cuts carefully selected nerves in the spinal cord, it also eliminates the need for orthopedic surgery later in life

Ms Morgan said: "Our wish is that one day Harry can walk holding hands with his twin sister and kick a ball to each other. We just want Harry to have the chance to do things we all take for granted."

Through a charity called Tree of Hope, they aim to raise £80,000 so Harry can have the operation either in the UK or USA. The money will cover the surgery, aftercare, and a prolonged course of intensive physio and specialist equipment.

Ms Morgan said only a handful of paediatric surgeons can perform the procedure in the UK.

As part of a new clinical trial 120 children will be selected against a strict criteria, but the waiting list of potential candidates is getting longer.

A delay in surgery will mean Harry has a higher chance of needing additional orthopaedic surgery.

"We know from the bitter experience of other families in the same position that chances are small and waiting lists are long. We just want the best for our boy and give him the same childhood as his sister."

Friends and family will be hosting fundraising events to help raise the funds, and a Just Giving page has been set up as well: www.justgiving.com/harrywillwalk

If they exceed their target or do not raise enough funds, or if they cannot be used for any other reason, the money raised will go to the general funds of Tree of Hope to assist other sick children.