Liam's Learning Fund

2025 UPDATE!!

The total amount here represents everything that has been raised from Liam's birth up until the present year to support his physical development as a child with hemiplegia. Almost all of this has already been spent on the specialist physiotherapy sessions, which have helped him immensely in his life thus far.

Our lovely son, Liam Isaac, was born at the Royal London Hospital on 2nd April 2013. Due to unforeseen circumstances, either before or during his birth, Liam suffered a stroke. His MRI scans showed extensive injury to the right side of his brain. It was a very difficult time for us as a family, and the neonatal neurologist was not optimistic about Liam's prognosis. We spent a month in the hospital, and Liam soon began to prove that those initial reports had been overly pessimistic. Yes, there had been extensive injury, and yes, it would mark him, but how Liam's progress unfolds would be something that he, and we as his parents, could work with. The doctors told us early on that the way we nurture and support Liam could make a very big difference. This was both a great responsibility and an opportunity for us to help our growing boy in the best ways we could. Liam has continually shown himself to be a strong, adaptable, and positive child—engaged and eager to take back the ground lost to him. This has been the case from the day he got out of intensive care! It has been moving to watch him. Liam is not a child who will let this difficult start stop him. (Read on...)

It’s our job as Liam's parents to help him, and for that, we need your help.

The damage has affected the left side of Liam's body, especially his left arm. (The medical term for this is "hemiplegia.") Liam has been undergoing therapy each week since he was four months old. It's quite remarkable to see these sessions: how engaged he is in this work, and he has made fantastic progress. With such skilled help, Liam is gradually learning to reconnect with his left side as much as is possible for him. His therapists are very pleased with his progress and his capacity for the learning he needs to do. Our ongoing check-ups with consultants at the Royal London Hospital confirm the progress Liam is making. Our young boy is on the path to healing—how much or how far that goes, nobody can say, but with help, it will be a long way indeed.

The target funds we aim to raise are earmarked by Tree of Hope to support Liam's physiotherapy and his healing during his growing years. This is a key time in his growth and development: children have amazing brain plasticity, which means the healing work Liam is doing can have maximum effect, helping his growing brain to form new neurological pathways to replace those lost. Liam is growing quickly right now, and bones grow faster than muscles; his physiotherapy will help his muscles maintain length so that his mobility can be sustained. Using both sides of his body more evenly is important for Liam's lifelong wellbeing.

Your generosity is a kindness that will make a very real difference to Liam.

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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.