PARENTS of an Oakworth toddler may discover in the next few weeks whether she can receive a life-changing operation in the UK.

Local people have raised £35,000 towards the cost of treatment in America to give Nicole Vendettuoli the ability to walk.

Her parents Candice and Tom halted the fundraising last autumn after discovering that surgery might be available on the NHS for Nicole’s neurological condition.

They know that specialists have to wait until October when Nicole is three years old before they can carry out a full assessment to decide whether Nicole would benefit from surgery.

But the couple were told an initial assessment this spring would give them a fair idea of whether their daughter was a suitable candidate for the treatment.

Nicole’s parents are now expecting to receive a date for the first assessment.

Nicole was born three months premature and had a brain hemorrhage, which led to her suffering cerebral palsy. Her left arm and both her legs are stiff, making sitting, crawling and walking impossible.

Mrs Vendettuoli said there were several possible treatments for Nicole’s condition, ranging from physiotherapy and muscle relaxants to a spinal operation that releases nerve stiffness and allows muscles to develop properly.

She said that eligibility for the operation depended on several factors, including which part of Nicole’s brain had been damaged, her physical strength, and her capacity to improve.

Mrs Vendettuoli said: “Children have to be strong enough in themselves to be able to deal with the physio afterwards.

“Nicole is determined to crack on. She’s been trying to do all the physical things since she was one year old.

“The assessment will involve lots of physical exercises to see how Nicole’s muscles are reacting, lots of moves like rolling, sitting and crawling. It will be quite physically draining for her.”

The Vendettuolis launched the Nicole’s Wish to Walk campaign last year to raise the £70,000 needed for treatment in the USA and follow-up therapy.

A succession of events organised by friends, family and supporters brought in £35,000 by the end of last year.

In December Nicole’s neurosurgeon told her parents that the operation she needs, selective dorsal rhizotomy, had recently been made available on the NHS.

Mrs Vendettuoli said the money already in the fund will be well-used to supplement Nicole’s treatment.

Following her operation Nicole will face Nicole will have six months of intensive physiotherapy. Some of the money will pay for private physio, with the rest going on specialist called equipment like walking frames, splints and a treadmill.”