A TODDLER is jetting out to India with his mother and grandmother for a second course of treatment which could give him some eyesight.

Little Connor Wrighton, who is just over 13 months old, is having stem cell therapy at a clinic in New Delhi, following treatment he had in the city in October and November.

Parents Nathan and Lisa Wrighton said they were feeling very positive that the pioneering treatment was going to make a major difference to Connor’s life.

He was born blind and with a form of cerebral palsy. At just 23 days old, Connor had a shunt fitted to relieve the pressure on his brain by taking away fluid to his stomach.

Doctors at Unistem Biosciences in New Delhi are starting a new phase of treatment for Connor, taking cells from his hips to hopefully ‘regenerate’ his eyes. The latest course of treatment is expected to last just under two weeks.

Mr Wrighton, formerly of Oxenhope and Silsden and an ex-student of South Craven School in Cross Hills, said the family was very hopeful that the stem cell therapy would make a significant difference to his son’s sight.

He added: "We were very impressed with the doctors last time – we feel very confident the treatment is going well.

"Connor does seem to have started to react to light and we believe there is some vision there. We always knew it was a bit of a long shot but obviously we want to give him every chance we can. So far we are delighted with Connor’s progress and feel very positive."

Mum Lisa and her mother, Joyce Stallebrass, are accompanying Connor on the trip this week and staying with him at the hospital, where he is expected to be for 12 or 13 days.

As the therapy is not available on the NHS, the family had to start an appeal to raise the cash to pay for the treatment, and raised about £25,000 in donations from well-wishers in just four months.

Mr and Mrs Wrighton, of Branch Road, Skipton scoured the internet for suitable courses of treatment and eventually settled on going to New Delhi.

Mrs Wrighton said: "We have nothing but praise for Connor’s doctors. They have been 100 per cent professional and very positive throughout.

"Obviously we’d like to thank absolutely everyone who made a donation to the appeal. We will always be deeply grateful for all the fantastic help we have had from so many people."

The family has a Facebook page, HelpConnor, which contains a link to PayPal helpconnor@yahoo.com.

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