A CROSS Keys family is getting ready to fly to the USA for a potentially “life changing” operation which could see five-year-old Olivia Robinson walk for the first time.

The youngster has spasticity in her limbs due to cerebral palsy although she is mentally agile.

She was born prematurely at 29 weeks and was diagnosed with petri-ventricular leukomalacia, a condition causing cysts in the parts of her brain which control movement.

Parents Beth and Daniel Robinson hit their £50,000 fundraising target in January and today revealed a date has now been set for their daughter’s operation after months of waiting.

On October 2 the family will fly to Missouri in the USA for an assessment ahead of the operation, called a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, on October 8.

The operation is performed on the lower spinal cord and should remove some of the tightness in Olivia’s legs, meaning she can move around more easily.

Mum Beth said the family have been busy planning and little Olivia is currently away in Oxford for three weeks of intensive therapy in readiness for the operation.

Ms Robinson said: “I can’t wait to get it over with, we are very excited. She’s been getting stronger over the last months, because of lots of therapy she’s been doing.

“It can be life changing. Every child is different. You don’t know until you have it done. Doctors have predicted she will be able to walk in a walker.

“At the beginning they do go backwards a little bit because they don’t have the muscle strength. You have to train the muscles.”

The dedicated parents have been raising money for the treatment since 2012 and visited local schools, supermarkets and a fire station to gather support.

The £50,000 will cover the flights, accommodation, operation and aftercare which will involve having therapy at home.

After weeks of therapy in the USA following the operation, the family are due to fly back to the UK on November 4.