Last Saturday morning Rose Hill Co- operative Nursery, the nursery the boys have attended since they were 1 year old, organised an old school dance party to help raise money for Thomas’ campaign. So many people came along and it was soooo much fun. The event raised £478.64 ! An incredible amount.
Thank you everyone. It was so nice to be reminded that this whole fundraising thing can be fun too!
I am so excited to be able to share with you that Thomas is about to start another 3 week intensive physio session at Footsteps http://footstepscentre.com/
I always look forward to going there as it feels as though the pressure is lifted and I can just be a mum for those 3 weeks.Fingers crossed Thomas stays strong and healthy throughout the 3 weeks so he can get the most out of the therapy. Back in June Thomas took his first independent steps so I wonder what he might achieve this time? I shall keep you posted.
Today we went to Winchester to meet Victoria and her brother Hugo at the end of their 100 mile cycle ride of the South Downs Way. Fortunately it turned out to be a beautiful autumnal day so perfect conditions for their last leg. It felt so nice to be able to thank them in person for all their effort and support. So far they have raised £890! Well done guys. Enjoy having your weekends back.
Since 1982, Brainwave has worked with families like us to deliver individual home based therapy and exercise programmes that help children with disabilities and Developmental Delay to achieve their potential.
A range of Therapists work together, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Educationalists, to address a child’s social development as well as their physical needs and it is this holistic approach that really appealed to me when we first visited in March. It brought everything together for me and this was so reassuring. We all know how I like to know the “Why” behind everything and back in March I didn’t feel I understood Thomas’ disability and how it affected him. I needed more of a structure to know we were doing everything we possibly could for Thomas. Brainwave gave us this and so much more.
Their approach is “let’s see what can be done”. An outlook, a vision that instantly reminded of my first meeting with John Hayes, my headteacher at Henry Compton and so I knew, just as I did with him, that we were in the right place. Rather than listing all the things your child isn’t doing, which is how we are often left to feel after our many hospital visits, they focused on what he was doing and what he can do.
After spending 2 days getting to know Thomas, the therapists took the time to explain and demonstrate the exercises to us, giving us time to do them together so we all left knowing how and why this programme would help unlock Thomas’ potential and it is! He has made brilliant progress in the last 6 months and here are the 3 certificates he received.
Our visit on Friday was so positive and so encouraging. We now have a new programme to follow which is more challenging but also realistic (like all good goals should be, eh teachers?).
So, again, thanks to your generosity and fundraising, we can access this support and specialist guidance. Support that is helping Thomas be all that he is meant to be. Let’s see what progress he makes in the next 6 months…
For those of you who don’t know, the Kielder is a half marathon… but with hills in it. Northern hills. Steep northern hills. Today, despite not feeling 100%, my beautiful African friend (we met in Africa) completed the Kielder half marathon and has raised over £700 towards Thomas’ surgery and post operative physio.
Ever since the boys were first born Julie and her partner Vicky have been there, right there. It was with them that the boys shared their first smile with one another (image 1) and then a year or so later (image 2 FYI Julie is in the door way) the connection they all have with one another is clear to see.
Visiting recently the same love and laughter was shared. The same love and friendship.
Thank you for your beautiful friendship guys. Thank you for running for Thomas today.
We will be hosting a pub quiz (well OK, technically a community centre quiz) to raise money for Thomas. Friday 18th November. Price t.b.c. once we have confirmed caterers and prizes.
So, thanks to YOU we have started private swimming lessons for the boys. The 1/2 hr is shared between them however Dylan often doesn’t want to go in so consequently it ends up just being Thomas who has the full 1/2 hr with Vicky, their instructor. This feels ok as Dylan will be able to join in with group lessons later on but this might well be tricky for Thomas.
It is great to see their confidence growing. Today Thomas was kicking away all by himself with just the noodle supporting him. He was also attempting some doggy paddling and went under the water with no protesting or tears, twice!
This is not only great physio, it is something that, in time I hope, will make him (them) feel so in-tuned with his (their) body, so free. This is how I feel when I am swimming and so I hope he (they) gets to feel it too.
Thank you for making this possible. I really do feel, at this point in time anyway, that we are doing everything we can to help Thomas be as strong as he can be for the assessment in April. Without your support it wouldn’t be possible for us to pay for his weekly private physio sessions, his weekly horse riding lesson, his weekly swimming lesson.Not while I am not working so again, from the bottom of our hearts thank you.
Last Sunday Debbie, a wonderful friend and ex colleague from Cheney School, kindly hosted a garden party at her home. Lots of people were able to come and it was so nice to reconnect and enjoy the afternoon sunshine together before the new academic year really kicks in.
Donations have been creeping up and up and the event is currently hitting £700 with the promise of more from those who couldn’t come. Essentially this pays for a years worth of private swimming lessons or 10 private physio sessions, therapy that is so important for his development and progress.
Thank you all so very much.
Today was a special day. We all took part in the Parallel London event in the Olympic Park in London.
http://parallellondon.com/
We all, Thomas included, did the 100 metres. He and D were both brilliant. T was using his walker, and was raring to go on the “B” of Bang at the starting line. He did the full 100 metres fantastically, to be met at the finishing line by congratulations from all.
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored Thomas for this!
Thanks to my brother Peter, we have this wonderful footage of Thomas completing his race on Sunday at Parallel London 2016. So far he has raised… £965 towards his own campaign!Your love and support is leaving me speechless.
I hope you enjoy watching this as much as we did.
help thomas 2 dance 