'Please keep him in your thoughts' - Young Alfie sedated after suffering excruciating pain

The nine-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, has been in hospital after undergoing selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) at Leeds General Hospital.

The procedure involved Alfie’s back being cut open so tests could be carried out on the nerve fibres running from the muscles to the spinal cord to find which ones most reduce his mobility, then dividing them to reduce stiffness and spasticity. The operation took between five and six hours.

It has now emerged that Alfie has taken a turn for the worse to such an extent he had to be put to sleep while doctors tried to manage his pain.

A message posted on the Help Alfie Walk for the First Time facebook page, by Alfie's mum, Annie Stalley, read: "We like to keep things as positive as possible because we all know how much Alfie is a happy boy who smiles but last night was so traumatic for Alfie and myself.

"He has been up and down with pain, last night it took a turn for the worse and no amount of meds would work, in the end the doctors had no choice but to sedate Alfie which instantly knocked him to sleep because of the dosage as they were worried he's damaged his back due to how distressed he became.

"This morning we have to wait for the surgeon and the neuro team to come around and check his back and try and find out what the problem is.

"It's doesn't look like he will be released from hospital and more than likely won't be able to start his first physio session due to last night.

"I just want my baby back to himself. Pain does awful things and last night it wasn't Alfie we were dealing with.

"Please keep him in your thoughts."