Cora's Cerebral Palsy Journey

We are raising funds for our 2-year-old daughter Cora, who due to a birth injury, has been diagnosed with moderate-severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She has a bright smile and a fun-loving personality, but her condition has created challenges in her daily life with mobility, communication, and cognitive function. Studies have shown that early intervention, via specialist physiotherapy, is vital in helping children fulfil their maximum potential. As parents we want to provide the best outcome for Cora, however the treatments and equipment required are extremely costly. We want to provide Cora with the best possible opportunity of fulfilling her potential.  

Cora suffered from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) at birth, which is essentially oxygen deprivation and a lack of blood flow to the brain. She spent almost 4 weeks in intensive care and during that time we found out, via an MRI scan, that she had suffered brain damage as a consequence. As a result, she has been diagnosed with moderate-severe cerebral palsy. 

Early years therapy, particularly intensive physiotherapy, has been shown to massively improve later life outcomes in children with cerebral palsy. Our main aim is to fund these intensive therapy blocks, where Cora would attend a specialist centre for multiple daily sessions across 2-3 weeks. Cora currently cannot sit unaided, crawl or walk as typical for her age. The sessions would work on all areas of her physical development, hopefully moving her towards some independence. A typical 1-hour session can cost around £100, with the intensive blocks costing between £1-4k in the UK and even more overseas, where a number of world leading cerebral palsy centres are located. 

Funds will also be put towards specialist equipment, such as the Eyegaze, which allows individuals with cerebral palsy to communicate and make choices using eye movements. As Cora is non-verbal and unable to freely use her hands, this technology would unlock a world of freedom for her to communicate her needs and make her own choices, for simple things such as what TV show to watch, what toy she would like to play with or what she would like to eat. 

With your support, we can provide Cora with the intensive therapy and equipment she needs to overcome the challenges of cerebral palsy and to live a happy and fulfilling life. Every donation, no matter how small, can make a difference. 

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.