Love for Lyra: Smiles to Steps

Lyra’s Story (Trigger warning: birth trauma)

Lyra is a very smiley one-year-old with developmental delays following a traumatic birth. She was born via emergency C-section after reduced movements were detected. She was found to have severe anaemia and needed multiple blood transfusions. On day three, she suffered a seizure and pulmonary haemorrhage. She survived multi-organ failure, but was left with moderate brain damage.

Her basal ganglia has been affected, and she is likely to be diagnosed with cerebral palsy as she grows. She’s also profoundly deaf. We’re working closely with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dieticians, audiologists, and ophthalmologists to give her the best possible start in life. Despite the challenges she’s faced, she’s a determined little girl who needs extra support to help her develop movement, coordination and independence.

We’re currently raising funds for specialist therapies like ABM NeuroMovement (https://www.creatingconnections.ltd/nilay-ersen) and SwimLab International (https://swimlabinternational.com/). These approaches are designed to help children like Lyra form new movement patterns, improve body awareness and strengthen the connection between brain and body. The earlier we can access these therapies, the better her chances for long-term progress.

What We’re Fundraising For

* A therapy week at the Early Intervention Centre in Lanzarote, 2026. We’ve already covered the cost of the therapy itself, but we’re raising money to help pay for flights and accommodation near the centre.

* Monthly intensive ABM NeuroMovement sessions, which cost around £500 per intensive week.

Despite everything, Lyra is a happy, beautiful little girl who brings so much joy to her family. Thank you so much for supporting her journey.

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