Largs family fundraiser to help daughter Alara take first steps in life
Alara Kavak has been approved for surgery in America that could help her walk for the first time in life.
A Largs family are making it their mission to raise £80,000 for a life-changing surgical operation that could help their 4-year-old daughter walk for the first time in her life.
Alara Kovak was born 3-months premature and had a difficult start in life.
Her parents Fiona and Ozkan were able to take her home eventually, but after 9-months the red-flags started going off, says Fiona.
Alara wasn’t making the expected progress with her physical and cognitive abilities. She was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy which affected her ability to walk.
Even further down the line, Alara’s cognitive skills started to progress at a faster rate which Fiona said was an emotional relief.
Now they have the chance to give their daughter an even better chance of living life to her full potential.
Alara has been approved for surgery in America that would ease the stiffness in her legs by cutting the nerves on her spinal column and eventually allowing her to take those first steps in life.
However, the operation is not offered on the NHS in the UK until children are at least 5 years old, by which time Fiona says is too late for her daughter.
It was a long application process for the family to go through which included thousands of videos and medical notes relating to the 4-year-old being submitted for consideration. But Alara was considered the ideal candidate.
The operation will cost £80,000, but the community of Largs have already set the family off to a flying start and they’ve raised nearly £20,000 in just three weeks.
Alara’s mum Fiona spoke to Clyde 1 and said it would be a dream come true for the entire family.
She said: “The kindness and the generosity that has come flooding in with donations has been overwhelming.
“We honestly didn’t know what the reaction was going to be, but we knew we had to launch the fundraiser, as it was just going to be too much of a mountain to climb alone.”
The Kavak family are hoping to have the full amount of money by February to give Alara the best chance of a successful operation.
The doctors in America have told them that the sooner she gets there the better.
Fiona tells us that they’re already seeing a decline in Alara’s physical skills, but despite the regular hospital appointments and pain she goes through, Alara keeps her spirits and head held high.
Mrs Kavak added: “Alara’s life involves a lot of hospital appointments. We’re in and out of check-ups appointments, and the poor wee soul smiles through all of it.
“There’s a lot of tough days and tears, but she’s so determined and such a trier.
“Alara has only just turned 4 and the deterioration that we’ve seen has been quite severe. Her physical skills are going downhill rapidly.
“We’re scheduled for surgery in February and that’s why the whole town is getting behind us to raise the money.
“To get onto that plane with our tickets knowing that’s it and we’re doing it would just be a dream come true. There would be a lot of tears shed, and we feel as if we’re within touching distance of it becoming a reality and the day will come.”
If the money isn’t raised by February, they can reschedule Alara’s surgery, but with thousands raised in just a matter of weeks there is hope.
You can donate to the Kavak families mission by searching ‘Alara’s Little Legs’ on Justgiving.
Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.