YOUNG Harry Childs is hoping to make giant strides this year - after two life-changing operations that could help him walk unaided.

The Berry Hill eight-year-old stole hearts across the Forest of Dean in 2018 as the community and charities banded together to raise more than £30,000 to help him try and achieve his dream.

And his mum Sasha Evans, 31, says the transformation since last September’s ops at the Bristol Children’s Hospital has been “amazing”, leaving the youngster pain free for the first time in years and able to sit up on his own.

“It’s just fantastic to see. He was really happy after the ops and is working so hard to improve,” she said.

Berry Hill Primary pupil Harry was born at 31 weeks weighing just 3.14oz and was diagnosed with spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, at the age of one.

Last February, mum Sasha started fundraising for Harry to have an SDR operation (selective dorsal rhizotomy), which kills off nerves that cause spasm and stiffness in his legs, to enable him to move more freely and ease the pain.

He turned eight in hospital while having the ops, and at the start of the new year, Sasha now says: “Harry’s working so hard to try and stand up on his own.

“If he does that, great, but I’m just delighted that he’s now pain free and able to move more easily.

“He was absolutely amazing in hospital, so positive.

“He was tired, but was doing physiotherapy within a few days and was really excited. We knew quite early on that the pain had gone, which was fantastic news, as he used to cry out in pain some nights.

“The ops took the tightness away, and now he’s working hard on strengthening the muscles in his legs and can walk further on his walker already.

“It’s small steps and he has at least two years of strengthening work to do, but thanks to everyone who helped raise money for Harry, he’s got every chance of improving.

“Originally, the fundraising was for the £40,000 cost of the operation, but then at very short notice they said he could have the op on the NHS, which means we’ve got the specialist support to really help Harry’s recovery over the next two years.

“Harry’s really working hard on trying to stand up unaided, doing sessions every week of hydrotherapy, physiotherapy and rebound therapy, and with a personal trainer. He’s doing stuff pretty much every day and can now sit up himself when he wakes in the morning, which is just amazing to see.

“He can move his legs, his toes and feet a lot more, and tap his feet on the floor, and pulls himself up.

“He’s muscled up, as he was very skinny before – the operation has changed his life, and now we’re all hoping to see his legs get stronger in 2019.

“I just want to say a huge thanks to the doctors and nurses, and the incredible fundraisers like the rugby club and the cricket club who held everything from disco nights to fun days and have given him the support to make the best recovery he can.

“Sometimes, Harry can get a bit frustrated because he’s trying so hard to walk. But despite everything, he’s very cheerful.

“He loves the outdoors and the fresh air and hopefully he’ll be able to go out on his own one day.”

Harry lives with his mum and little sister Maisy at their Park Road home, and attends school part-time at the moment.

“His schoolmates are so supportive of him,” said Sasha.

“The kids absolutely love him, which has really boosted Harry.”

And while he dreams of getting around independently in the future, another of Harry’s dreams came true at Christmas when Santa brought him some new Playstation games.

“Like most kids, he absolutely loves computer games, and he got everything he wanted and more at Christmas,” said his proud mum.

Anyone who wants to help support Harry’s bid to walk, can go to www.treeofhope.org.uk/harry-childs/