Todds Tots CP Journey

My gorgeous identical twin boys couldn’t wait to arrive and were born 10 weeks early weighing just 3.1lb.  Sadly, whilst in NICU the cranial head scan showed that Caiden had suffered a bleed on the brain & Reece showing a flare. On discharge from hospital 6 weeks after their arrival we was given the devastating news that the boys had Periventricular Leukomalacia which is damage to the white Brain matter around the fluid filled ventricles.  PVL can cause damage to the nerve pathways that control motor movements, resulting in muscles that are tight, spastic or resistant to movement.  Unfortunately, this is true for my both my boys. 

At 1 year of age, they was both diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and have been graded 4/5 meaning that they may never walk and if they do will almost certainly need some equipment assistance to do so.  

Our beautiful sons are now 3 years old, turning 4 in June, so a little about the boys individually.

Caiden melts everyone’s heart and is such a gentle, happy boy.  He gives the best cuddles, beautiful smile and has the most infectious laugh. Caiden currently is nonverbal, unable to sit unaided for more than a minute, unable to crawl or walk.  Caidenstill struggles with his head control at times as it is very hard work for him and has very tight arms meaning unable to hold his own drink or feed himself (unless it’s a wotsit of course).

Reece melts everyone’s’ hearts but for completely didn’t reasons.  He is the cheeky monkey that has so much determination, he doesn’t want anything to get in his way.  He has come on so much in the last few months with regards to speech.  He can say a fewof the words in his favourite nursery rhymes, says 1,2,3 and is now trying to master his alphabet.  No he cannot hold a conversation with me or tell me what he wants but to hear his little voice is adream come true.  Reece is the master of the commando crawl and in October learnt to sit unaided however he still in unableto stand unaided or walk.

The boys have achieved what they have so far by having weekly/bi weekly private physio which we would love to continue.  An hour session costs £154.00 for both boys.  These sessions are building their muscles, core strength and teaching them to sit, crawl, stand and walk with the fantastic equipment available.

Physio is such a huge part of every day for them but they take it all in their stride and are still the happiest of boys.  I would love for the boys to attend a 5 day intensive week with SwimLab international in Lanzarote.  They absolutely love the water so would enjoy this so much whilst working hard which would mean the world to us.

The continued physio will help the boys develop and improve cognitive, physical and motor functions so they can enjoy more freedom and independence. We just want to give the boys every opportunity to become the best they can be.  

With your help we can make this a reality, whatever you can contribute will be so very gratefully received.

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 thosecircumstances we are unable to use all or part of the funds for the benefit of our child in accordance with Tree