Livia has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy spastic diplegia, and we want to fund raise in order for Livia to attend a specialist cerebral palsy centre called Bobath.

Livia suffered brain damage due to being born premature. The damage she has effects her legs, core, and right arm. This means that Livia has balance issues and has restricted mobility. Thankfully she is on her feet but is very hindered with her walking. She cannot run, jump, kick a ball, climb. She needs assistance to walk any further than a few feet.

As it is brain damage there’s nothing we can do to make it better, and the effects of the damage will change as she grows. As the years go on for her only time will tell where the spasticity will affect her. As Livia grows her bones get bigger, but her muscles will respond by tightening as they don't know how to stretch. This could mean she is left incapable of walking, unless she does enough to fight against it.

The main way we can assist Livia is by providing her with daily physiotherapy. The physical exercise helps her muscles to stretch where they cannot do so themselves. At present the therapy is performed at home by Livia's parents, and on a very ad hoc basis by a physiotherapist on the NHS. We recently visited a therapy centre in London called Bobath. They are a specialist treatment and training centre, and a charity dedicated to supporting children and families living with cerebral palsy and similar neurological conditions. They offer a 2 week intensive programmes, where we can go as a family to learn about Livia's condition and be taught how best to help her.

The programme itself costs £4,000, we would also need to stay in London for the 2-week period, which we estimate would cost in the region of £1,500. Livia needs to attend the course every 6-9 months as she grows so rapidly at this age, and therefore the therapy will need to be reevaluated and adjusted to best respond to her needs,

Whilst visiting Bobath Livia was assessed by a physiotherapist, a speech and language therapist, and an occupational therapist. We discovered she also requires help with some fine motor skills and requires specialised equipment to enable her to sit safely, comfortably and well supported whilst eating and doing craft activities. Her current mobility aids were also looked at, and we were advised that Livia needs these adjusted to give her maximum benefit to function to the best of her ability and to encourage further improvement.

Taking Livia to the centre would give her the very best start in life, we can make her stronger, which would in turn would give her more independence - she could get herself back up off the floor when she falls, or even walk upstairs. This early intervention will make the world of difference to Livia as she grows into a woman.

Any help you can give us towards this whatsoever is greatly appreciated. Our little girl means the world to us, and as any family, we just want the best for her, but we want to lay these foundations now to give her a powerful start in life.

Thank you for reading and supporting Livia x