Isabelle Blay

My name is Izzy, and I am 3 years old (nearly 4!).

I have right-sided hemiplegia, which is a form of cerebral palsy. This means I suffered a bleed on the brain (a stroke), damaging the part of the brain that controls muscle movements on my right side. I was born healthy, and it wasn't until I was 3 months old that my mummy and daddy noticed I wasn't using my right hand, and it was often held in a fist. After an MRI scan, I received my diagnosis at 8 months old.

Hemiplegia means I have weakness, stiffness, and a lack of control on the right side of my body. My right side can feel heavy, tense, or tired, and it is stiffer than my left side. I feel hot or cold temperatures more acutely in my right hand. I can often forget my right hand is there and not use it! Fine motor skills are a challenge for me, and I wear a hand splint to help open my hand and maintain my range of movement. I can walk, while many children with hemiplegia can't! However, my balance isn't always good, and I can trip or fall over. I get tired very easily because my body is working so hard. I also wear a leg splint to help keep my heel down and stop me from walking on my toes. This helps stretch my calf and promotes hip development. As I grow, the tightness becomes worse and makes everyday tasks more difficult, e.g., putting on clothes, going up and down stairs, washing. I do daily stretches to help prevent these effects.

Despite my daily challenges, I am a very bubbly little girl who loves to sing, run around, and play! With your help and support, my future could be much brighter.

Hemiplegia is a relatively rare condition, affecting up to 1 child in 1,000.

The condition is lifelong and non-progressive. Hemiplegia cannot be cured, but a lot can be done to minimize its effects and help Izzy achieve her potential. Hemiplegia affects each child differently, and it may look different over time as Izzy grows. At this stage, it is unclear if Izzy will be affected in other ways. Other symptoms associated with hemiplegia include epilepsy, learning difficulties, hearing impairment, and visual impairment.

The immature brain is very flexible, and many of the functions of the damaged area can be taken over by undamaged areas of the brain. This is why early intervention is so important to help minimise the effects of Izzy's disability later in life. We want to do everything we can to support Izzy. Currently, the NHS does not offer some of the therapies Izzy needs.

With the help of Tree of Hope, a charity for sick and disabled children, we are hoping to raise £10,000 to fund the next couple of years of therapies, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orthotics, CIMT (constraint-induced movement therapy), travel, accommodation, and anything else we may come across that could make a difference and help her fulfill her potential.

7.5% of all donations to Tree of Hope in relation to this appeal will be allocated to the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope to cover our core operating costs.

If we raise insufficient funds, or surplus funds, then the funds will be used, if appropriate, to fund support for our child’s needs in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objects. If in those circumstances we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree of Hope’s charitable objectives, then any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.