A LITTLE boy is preparing to undergo life-changing surgery that could see him defy doctors and take his first steps.

Oliver Osborne was diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy at 15 months old and his family were told he would never walk.

Now, the three-year-old, along with his mum Sallyanne, 39, dad Terry, 37, and big sister Millie, 5, have packed their bags and are flying to America where he will have the vital operation called selective dorsal rhizotomy next Tuesday.

The family decided to travel to St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri for the procedure as it is only available for a small amount of cases in the UK.

The family, from Hillcroft, Titchfield, raised £100,000 during a 13 month fundraising drive to cover the cost of the surgery and the daily physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and personal training he will need when they return to the UK in the beginning of November.

Mum Sallyanne said: “The operation would make a complete difference to his life because he will be able to walk eventually, with a lot of hard work.

“It wouldn’t just make a difference to him – it would make a difference to our whole family.”