A NINE-year-old boy is about to embark on a life-changing trip that may leave him paralysed on one side of his body.

Jake Rose suffers from up to 200 seizures a day caused by a focal cortical dysplasia, a collection of abnormal cells in his brain.

Every time Jake has a seizure, damage is done to his brain, affecting his memory, speech, movement and cognitive skills, but the operation could remove the dysplasia and stop the seizures.

They are likely to get worse once he hits puberty, so his family have faced the daunting task of raising £100,000 to pay for the operation in two years.

Jake’s mum Debbie, who grew up in Lowton, said: “Jake was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was two but he took a turn for the worse just over two years ago because of the dysplasia.

“He has had several operations to remove it but it is too dangerous for the surgeons to try again. Going to Cleveland is our last chance.”

Jake and Debbie are preparing to fly to Cleveland on July 15 but they still need to raise £30,000.

Nearly a quarter of Jake’s brain will be removed, which could leave him with paralysis on the left side of his body.

“He should regain some movement and he will need a lot of mental activity to allow the remaining part of his brain to compensate,” said Debbie, who moved to Spain 30 years ago and runs a hairdressing salon there.

“He cries all the time. He just wants to be a normal child.”

Debbie’s sister Karen Watts, who still lives in Lowton, would like to thank G&G Lloyds in Leigh, News on’t corner in Lowton and Yvonne Foster for their fundraising help.

Visit gofundme.com/5ez8nc to make a donation.