BRAVE little Jacob Buckett is recuperating in hospital after having the life changing surgery which could help him walk.

Jacob, four, from Canford Heath, suffers from cerebral palsy and as a result struggles to walk and move around unaided.

Due to his condition he finds it hard to put his feet flat on the ground due to his condition and as a result his hip bones are starting to come out of the socket.

He was told by doctors that he needed a selective dorsal rhizotomy (sdr) by his fifth birthday in October or he would risk being wheelchair bound for life.

The operation, not available on the NHS, could restore the function in his legs by as much as 75 per cent, the family has been told.

A fundraising campaign was launched last year to raise the £36,000 needed for the operation and physiotherapy. So far £25,000 has been raised which is enough to cover the cost of the operation.

On Monday the Buckett family agreed to go ahead with the operation at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children because Jacob’s condition had begun to deteriorate.

A statement from the family said that although it’s still early days it looks like the operation was a success - with Jacob even able to wiggle his toes for the first time in his life.

Patsy Hallmey, trustee of the Dorset Children’s Foundation which is helping raise funds for Jacob, said the football-mad youngster still managed to sound happy.

“Jacob is such a happy, smiley little boy, he is in pain but was still so chirpy on the phone,” added Patsy.

“Although he can wiggle his toes his legs are very weak and this is why it is essential that Jacob has two years of intensive physiotherapy.

“Normally we would have raised both the money for the operation £21,000 and the physiotherapy £16,000 before the operation takes place, but a month ago Jacob’s surgeon said he needed this surgery as soon as possible to prevent him from becoming a full-time wheelchair user.

“He is determined to work so hard to gain his dream of walking.”

There is still a long way to go to raise the extra £12,000 needed to pay for two years of intensive physiotherapy for Jacob.

To donate go to justgiving.com/the-dcf-appeal-jacob.