Words: Brigid O’Connell, Herald Sun

Photography: David Caird, Herald Sun

To be able to put one foot in front of the other, Henry Bryant is learning to walk all over again.

But the four-year-old has proved at every hurdle he is up for the challenge.

Henry is putting all his determination into intensive rehabilitation after complex spinal surgery to treat muscle tightness from cerebral palsy, that is aiming to see him pain free and moving more freely.

“This operation was all about giving him the therapies and interventions that he’s going to have in the future, every opportunity to have their best result,” said dad Shayne.

Traditional physiotherapy and Botox injections were only having minimal impact to reduce the stiffness in his legs. Recently he has been waking overnight in pain.

This is how Henry reached the point of needing this surgery of last resort at The Royal Children’s Hospital.

Selective dorsal rhizotomy involves cutting some of the sensory nerve fibres that send abnormal signals from the leg muscles to the spinal cord. This frees up communication channels between the brain and muscles to improve mobility.

In a two-year journey up to the procedure, Henry’s temperament and mental health were assessed to see if he could cope with being bed-bound after surgery, the seven-week hospital stay, and the intensive rehabilitation that would follow.

“I don’t know whether it’s a result of him seeing a lot of doctors, but not much flusters him,” his sad said.

“He doesn’t cry when he gets his immunisations – he’s pretty resilient.”

It is now taking multiple teams across the RCH to build him back up following last month’s surgery. Henry has a strict schedule of rehabilitation, including exercises in his bed three times a day.