A two-year-old Weston-super-Mare boy will travel to America for an operation which will enable him to walk for the first time, after his family successfully raised £75,000 to pay for the life-changing treatment.

Weston Mercury: Nicola and Jacob Baird with their family.Nicola and Jacob Baird with their family. (Image: Archant)

Jacob Baird has cerebral palsy and needs an operation called a selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) to enable him to walk unaided.

However, the procedure is unavailable on the NHS and so Jacob’s family set up a campaign to raise £75,000 to fly Jacob to America for the operation and pay for his rehabilitation afterwards.

Jacob’s mum Nikki told the Mercury the support they had received was ‘incredible’.

She said: “It is all thanks to people’s generosity and our wonderful family and friends, who have all worked tirelessly this year – and not forgetting the Axentis Michael charitable trust for their huge contribution.

“Back in January, when I sat in my friend’s front room and we set up Jacob’s website and Facebook page, I had no idea how all of it would pan out.

“It has restored my faith in human nature. We’ve had nothing but kind words and support and it’s been an incredible time – exhausting, but incredible.

“This money will change our little boy’s life.”

Jacob will now travel to St Louis in Missouri to have the operation in December.

Nikki said: “When we found out about the surgery and what it could do for Jacob, we just knew we had to do whatever we could to make it possible.

“It’s such a hard thing to do, literally begging for people’s money. It’s never been something we’ve been comfortable with doing, but when it’s your child and your only option, you have no choice.”