My friend Irina's pregnancy was normal until her 3rd trimester, when she was diagnosed with Cholestasis, which affects her liver and kidneys. At 30 weeks the decision was made to induce labour.

When Irina first met baby Timothy she was filled with relief and bursting with love for her son. However, she soon noticed the shape of Timothy’s head was unusual. When she questioned the doctors, she was told Timothy’s skull had compressed during childbirth and would return to normal.
After a blissful few weeks at home, Irina noticed Timothy’s eyes were bulging. Irina & husband Sergey decided to seek help from a neurologist. The doctors again reassured them that the issue would resolve itself.
By now, Irina’s motherly instincts were telling her that something was wrong, so she pushed hard to see another doctor. Eventually she managed to contact a neurosurgeon who immediately recognised the signs and diagnosed Timothy with Trigonocephaly; a deformity of the skull which can lead to underdevelopment of the brain, loss of sight & hearing.

The good news is that Trigonocephaly is curable if there’s early surgical intervention. Sadly, the procedure is very expensive in Ukraine, where there’s no NHS. It’s only with the generosity of their family & friends that they could cover the medical bills during Irina’s pregnancy. Now Irina & Sergey are facing an operation costing over £10,000. Finding this kind of money would be daunting for people here in the UK, but for Irina & Sergey it might seem insurmountable. Somehow they’re staying positive and are determined to fight for baby Timothy’s life.

Timothy parents are the loveliest couple I know and waited years for a baby. I’ve been inspired by their love, positivity & dedication in the face of such tragic circumstances. I want to help them save Timothy’s life.

Please, I wish to ask everyone who can help this young family to donate even the smallest amount. If we all work together we can cure Timothy and give this family a future.