In April 2025, our happy and healthy two-year-old daughter Eira developed what appeared to be an ordinary cold. Within hours, she had a dangerously high temperature, began vomiting and suffered multiple seizures. She became unresponsive and was placed on a ventilator before being transferred to intensive care in Cardiff.

An MRI showed that Eira had Acute Necrotising Encephalopathy (ANE), a rare condition in which an infection triggers inflammation and brain damage.

On 16 April, we were told that Eira's brain injury was catastrophic and that she had little to no chance of survival. Our family gathered to say goodbye, and her ventilator was withdrawn. But Eira continued to breathe by herself.

She was transferred to Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice for palliative care and later came home. Eira's brain injury affects her movement and communication, and she depends on us for all her physical needs. Despite this, she continues to surprise us with her smiles, sounds, movements and responses.

Just4Children are raising funds for three areas of support.

We want to fund three months of intensive neuro-rehabilitation, involving specialist clinics in the UK and USA alongside private paediatric dietetic input. This is expected to cost more than £10,000.

We are also fundraising approximately £50,000 for a Trexo Robotics walking device, subject to assessment and a final quotation. Eira cannot stand or walk independently. The device could give her opportunities for safe, supported movement and weight-bearing.

Her specialist physiotherapy and hydrotherapy cost £370 every four weeks, or approximately £4,810 a year. These therapies support her movement, positioning, comfort and physical health.

We cannot know what Eira may achieve, and no treatment can guarantee progress. We want to give her suitable opportunities while supporting her comfort, health, inclusion and quality of life.

Every donation and share will help us provide the rehabilitation, therapy and equipment Eira needs.

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