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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 14 ,2 01 9 | 10 CAMBRIDGE 90 Main Street cornerstonefurniture.ca 519.740.9991 /CornerstoneHome /cornerstonehomeinteriors We stock more sofas than any store in Ontario. Be blown away! CORNERSTONE'S WINTER SALE CONTINUES Cornerstone receives container loads of furniture every week. Come in to experience the vast selection of chairs, sofas, dining tables, rugs, cabinets and cupboards. We have a myriad of accessories that will finish off the look you're going for. $1,150.00 $769.00 $2,865.00 $1,825.00 $599.00 $399.00 $1,750.00 $1,225.00 $1,350.00 $995.00$995.00 $1,595.00 $1,100.00 $5,200.00 $3,475.00 $699.00 $499.00 $725.00 $475.00 $749.00 $525.00$525.00 $1,375.00 $925.00 After Tyler Backus' next surgery, his sixth, his parents hope their young son will be free of pain. The eight-year-old, who suffers from spastic quad- riplegia, a severe form of Cerebral Palsy, has had a litany of surgeries, spinal taps, MRIs, EEGs, a CT scan and an EKG, since his birth. In May, Tyler will once again head to the U.S. for selective percutaneousfor selective percutaneousf myofascial lengthening (SPML), a type of surgery done to relieve tension from muscle spasticity.from muscle spasticity.f His initial SPML sur- gery, done four years ago by New Jersey orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Roy Nuzzo, was "very successful in eliminating the spasticity in his hamstrings, adduc- tors and calves," said mom Kelly McMahon, whose husband - and Tyler's fa- ther - Gord Backus, grew up in Oakville. "He no longer continu- ously woke up in the mid- dle of the night due to pain and muscle spasms." At the time, doctors weren't able to perform the surgery on his upper extremities because his bi- ceps were too small, said McMahon. This time around, SPML surgery will also be performed in Tyler's pec- toralis and neck, and he'll receive ethanol nerve blocks in both, as well as his biceps. Recovery time is minimal. Currently, Tyler wears wrist and arm splints to stretch his arms, but the family hopes by eliminat-family hopes by eliminat-f ing the spasticity in his arms and the tightness in his pectoralis, his pain will disappear and his fine motor function will im- prove. Canada offers no com- parable surgery, and OHIP does not cover the cost of Tyler's out of coun- try surgery, said McMa- hon. The family receives limited government fund- ing for things such as re- spite camps, housekeep- ing and in-home respite, so they have started a Go- FundMe campaign once again to help toward the cost of surgery. "We never feel comfort- able asking for money from family and friendsfrom family and friendsf and the community, but we feel like we don't have a choice. When we see the success of the SPML and ethanol block surgery in his lower extremities in 2015, then of course we want to go back to N.J. to get his upper extremities done." "A child with a lifetime disability such as cerebral palsy involves many out- of-town appointments and therapies. It's never easy to give Tyler the best qual- ity of life but we try." Tyler has made great strides in his short life: His communication is im- proving when using his low-tech eye gaze system for choice making andfor choice making andf learning; he is able to do more independent steps with full support and more independent pedals with his adaptable bike, she said. "Ty is a very happy boy that loves to laugh and gig- gle, sometimes hysterical- ly. He loves going to school and being around his peers. He is a very strong and determined little man that has dealt with a lot in his life so far and he is very inspiring." "Even when his right hip was close to dislocat- ing before his hip surgery (2017), he rarely com- plained and we are sure he must have been in pain but he couldn't communicate it to us." To donate to the cam- paign, go to https:// www.gofundme.com/our- happyboy or email kellymcmahon@hot- mail.com. YOUNG BOY TO UNDERGO LIFE-ALTERING SURGERY IN U.S. Tyler Backus' parents have started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for surgery their son needs in the U.S. Their hope is that in eliminating the spasticity in his upper extremities, the surgery will also eliminate his pain. Tyler suffers from a severe form of CP known as Spastic Quadriplegia, but is making great strides. Above, Tyler, 8, is shown on his first day of Grade 3 this past September. Kelly McMahon/Photo KATHY YANCHUS kyanchus@metroland.com NEWS FAMILY HAS SET UP GOFUNDME CAMPAIGN