A MOTHER whose son needs a £58,000 operation to be able to walk said time is running out to raise the money.

Gabriel Masih-Gill, from Barton, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was a baby and cannot walk.

Since the family started raising funds for the operation that can be performed in Missouri, USA, they have raised over £20,000.

But the Stowford Road family say they are pushed to raise the funds in time, with Gabriel requiring the operation before his 17th birthday in November 2016.

Mother-of-two Paula, 40, said: “He [Gabriel] is doing really well. We have raised £21,000 so far, but we need to raise the rest before he is 17 as that is when he needs the operation.

“We are aiming for Easter to hit the target, but time is running out.”

Four years ago Mrs Masih-Gill was looking through Take a Break magazine when she read a feature that made her heart race.

Inside was a piece about selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a complex neurosurgical technique for children with cerebral palsy.

It was then she realised her son had the chance to walk properly for the first time.

Gabriel also developed a bone condition which has required him to take drugs that cancer patients are administered to strengthen his bones for the past two years.

But despite the setback he has been in full training to get strong enough for the operation.

Paula added: “We have been to specialist training facilities in Scotland and Wales to get him stronger.

“We also made the decision in May to pull him out of the school curriculum, which was a big decision, but he is so focused on being able to walk.

“He needs to get strong still and I take him swimming every morning and he goes and sees a specialist in Wales six days every month.

“Hopefully we can get him strong enough so we can go over there in Easter, but it has to be in November by the latest really.”

All of Gabriel’s training is privately funded through one wage, with Mrs Masih-Gill caring for him and five-year-old brother Lucien.

His father Samuel, 45, is a clinic coder and the family live on a tight budget to make sure Gabriel can have a gym membership and specialist training.

The family have organised various fundraisers including a fun walk and a skydive, and a set of brothers from Blackbird Leys donated cash they raised by doing a triathlon.

Mrs Masih-Gill added: “ We really believe he will walk.

“We have a big disco and live band booked for a fundraising event in October at the Oxford Sports and Social ground and we hope to raise some more money then.”

Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/Paula-Masih-Gill1