Young boy with cerebral palsy riding BMX bike a year after surgery at Montreal Children's Hospital

A young boy with cerebral palsy had a life-changing surgery at the Montreal Children’s Hospital and, a year later, he’s riding a BMX bike just like his brothers.

Zackary Lessard has always been a thrill-seeker and he said BMX riding is his biggest adrenaline rush.

“I go very fast and am full of energy,” he said.

His dream of taking up the sport along with his two brothers, Liam and Felix, seemed impossible as the eight-year-old was born with cerebral palsy.

His mother, Virginie Blouin, said her son was just a few months old when he started showing difficulties in his motor skills.

“We could not tell what will be his limitations,” she said. “We could not tell if he will be able to walk, we could not tell anything.”

The condition affects movement and coordination, but it doesn’t manifest in the same way in everyone. It can cause stiff muscles for some and jerky or floppy movements in others.

For Zackary, even walking was difficult.

“When he was walking, his knees was like inside and his feet were… crooked,” said Blouin.

Last year, however, a pivotal opportunity came the family’s way when Zackary underwent a major medical procedure.

It was a grueling 10-hour surgery aimed at reducing exaggerated reflexes.

“So that there is a better equilibrium between what the brain tells the spinal cord and the muscles to do, and what the reflexes are doing for the child,” said pediatric neurosurgeon Jean-Pierre Farmer.

The operation was a success and, after two months of rehabilitation, Zackary was back on his feet.

“This is particularly rewarding for us because it changes their lives,” said Zackary.

Not only did the boy’s walking improve, he’s able to do things he previously could not like riding his BMX bike.

“We start to train every week to do some BMX and see where Zack can go in the future with his brothers,” said his father Maxyme Lessard.

His parents said they would join their three boys on the track and get on a BMX in 2025.