Help Leo To Walk Pain Free

Leo’s Story and Why We Are Fundraising

Leo, our son, was born 10 weeks prematurely on June 14, 2013, by emergency caesarean, weighing only 2.2 pounds. From the moment he was born, we knew our journey would be difficult. He spent a long time in the special care baby unit, and though it was incredibly hard to see how small and fragile he was, we were amazed by the care and support that helped him grow outside the womb.

Unfortunately, being born so prematurely carries risks. After a CT scan, we learned that Leo suffered a pre-birth hemorrhage in his brain. We were told we couldn’t know what the future would hold, and only time would tell. Over the coming weeks and months, Leo underwent regular scans to assess the damage, and we learned that he has Hemiplegia—a form of cerebral palsy on his left side, accompanied by high muscle tone in that area. The good news is that 90% of children with Hemiplegia eventually walk, but they require a lot of physiotherapy to strengthen the weaker side.

Leo is now 2 years old and has exceeded everyone’s expectations with his progress. Thanks to early intervention and a lot of hard work, he is thriving, though he’s not walking yet. He gets around by crawling and bum-shuffling in his own unique way. Intellectually, Leo is like any other child but, due to his premature birth, he is a bit delayed and will catch up as he grows. He also has a speech delay and is currently receiving speech and language therapy.

Unfortunately, due to NHS cuts, Leo isn’t getting the care he needs for his development. The cost of equipment and additional therapies is a huge burden on our family, and that’s why we’re fundraising to give Leo the best possible chance in life.

What Is the Money For?

Because of his Hemiplegia, Leo has high muscle tone in his arm and leg, leading to toe-walking and clenched fists. There is a life-changing surgery called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) that could dramatically improve his mobility. Sadly, this surgery isn’t funded by the NHS, so we have to go private. Without this procedure, Leo will face difficulty being mobile for the rest of his life—and we are determined not to let that happen.

How the SDR Surgery Works:

The surgery involves removing two vertebrae from Leo's lower spine, sending electrical pulses down the nerves to locate the spastic muscles. Once found, the nerve causing the spasticity is cut, and the vertebrae are placed back. This surgery will relieve the high muscle tone Leo experiences. He can only undergo this surgery at age 5 due to the risks involved. After the surgery, he will need intensive physiotherapy for about a year to strengthen his legs and affected side.

What We Need Now

In addition to the SDR surgery, Leo requires ongoing speech and language therapy. Due to NHS cuts, he only receives one hour of therapy per month—far from enough to meet his needs. Unfortunately, private therapy is the only option for us.

The SDR surgery and the intensive physiotherapy afterward will cost a significant amount, and without your help, we risk missing the opportunity to give Leo the treatment he needs before he turns 5. Our goal is to raise the necessary funds well before his fifth birthday.

How You Can Help

To help raise funds for Leo’s surgery and therapy, I will be taking part in The Great Outdoors Challenge (TGO) in May 2016. This is a 225-mile hike across the Scottish Highlands, spanning 13 days and crossing some of the most challenging terrain in Europe. I will be walking self-supported, carrying all my gear, food, and tent. This is a huge challenge, and I’m doing it for Leo.

It will be a particularly special journey as I’ll be walking alongside my 70-year-old father, who is taking part in this challenge for the last time. This hike is our chance to do something significant for Leo and create lasting memories as a family.

How You Can Support Us

We truly appreciate any support you can offer. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference in Leo’s life. It will help him walk, gain independence, and live a better life.

To donate, please visit our fundraising page or send a text donation:

Text LEOL50 to 70070 and donate any amount.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity. Your support means the world to us.

Mum, Dad, Jake, and Leo

For more updates, you can follow Leo’s journey on Facebook:

www.facebook.com/helpleotowalk

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.