Little Susanna says thanks to you all! (From St Helens Star)

Little Susanna says thanks to you all as she jets out to St Louis

9:24am Thursday 18th October 2012 in News By Stephen Mather, Senior reporter

TODAY, little Susanna Petersburska and her family jet out to the US for an operation, which is hoped, will change her life forever.

And the brave five-year-old has written a special letter of thanks to all those people who helped raise the cash to make her dream a possibility.

The Blackbrook St Mary’s pupil, who suffers from cerebral palsy, is travelling to St Louis, Missouri with mum Monika, dad Andrzej and big sister Maja, to undergo an operation, which it is hoped, will help her walk unaided for the first time. The procedure, called selective dorsal rhizotomy, involves cutting some of the sensory nerve fibres from the muscles to the spinal cord.

An excited and delighted Andrzej and Monika said they expect to be in America for around five weeks.

It marks the latest stage in a remarkable journey for the family from Eccleston, who faced a mammoth task to raise the £60,000, needed to fund the procedure and trip.

But thanks to the generosity of Star readers and restaurant chain Frankie and Benny’s, who staged a nationwide fundraising event over one weekend, they are on their way, after the total was smashed.

In a letter written to the Star, decorated with a flower and love heart, Susanna wrote: “I would like to thank all the people for help raised money for me and for your support. You are great. I love you from Susanna.” Signed off with three kisses, it is a touching token, from a little girl, whose biggest gift is yet to come.