When he woke two weeks later, he had no feeling down his right hand side and further investigations revealed he had Cerebral Palsy, which left him with limited mobility. With no cure available, his only option was intensive physiotherapy, which he continues.

As a young boy, he had to learn to walk and speak again and was left with a range of disabilities. He said due to the pain associated with the condition, some days he struggles to get out of bed and also suffers from depression.

Doctors have now told him that is it likely he will become confined to a wheelchair within the next five years. However, Mr Magee since found there is a chance this could be prevented by stem cell treatment. Not available on the NHS, the costly regenerative therapy has the potential to replace the damaged and non-functional cells in the brains of Cerebral Palsy patients.

Studies have found that stem cell treatment recipients show greater improvements on cognitive and motor assessments. Having located a doctor in Switzerland who is willing to carry out the procedure, Mr Magee launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise the £30,000 needed. Mr Magee, who despite his disability gained a qualification as a personal trainer, believes the treatment will give him a "new lease of life". "I got really interested in fitness and use that to try and help progress myself," he said. "There is no cure and my prognosis will only get worse. It is likely I will be in a wheelchair in five years and I don't want that to be my life."

He said he relies on up to 15 painkillers per day to help him move. "I'd like to meet someone and get married and become a father and be able to play with my kids," he said. "This procedure would give me a new lease of life. I am willing to work as hard as I can to make this happen and I would be indebted to anyone who can help."

Please click here to donate via the official GoFundMe page

Read Article @ The Irish News