Help Rhys Access Essential Care and Equipment

We are fundraising to support Rhys with a selection of therapies, equipment, and necessary home adaptations to accommodate his growing needs and provide essential care to ensure his safety.

Our Story:

Rhys was born prematurely, and for the first two weeks, we thought everything was normal. That was until one day, when Rhys went blue, an experience no parent should ever witness. It was terrifying to see our newborn son in such a critical state.

Rhys was immediately transferred to London’s Evelina Hospital, where doctors worked tirelessly to save him. His heart would stop, and he would stop breathing repeatedly, leaving us watching in horror as his bed became surrounded by medical professionals. Doctors informed us that Rhys had suffered some brain damage.

At 6 weeks old, Rhys underwent heart surgery but continued to struggle to breathe on his own. It was then decided that Rhys would need a tracheostomy and portable life support. The following 10 months were spent in the hospital, with extensive training for us to care for him and train up a care team. Rhys required round-the-clock monitoring.

Due to being intubated for so long, Rhys lost the ability to eat or drink, and we were told he would never be able to. But by February 2015, we brought Rhys home, adapted our house with a downstairs bedroom, and equipped it with necessary medical equipment. During this time, we had to ring the emergency crash bell several times, which was overwhelming, but we kept pushing forward.

As Rhys grew, we started seeing more and more progress. Rhys began to do things like a typical child, despite needing breathing equipment and a feeding tube. I spent hours massaging Rhys’s face and neck, and he even began to play with food. By January 2018, Rhys had his gastrostomy removed and could eat and drink on his own.

We’ve always tried to treat Rhys like a normal child, taking him to family trips, the farm, and even sending him to mainstream nursery while I worked part-time. Last week, after nearly two years, Rhys came off life support, which was a major milestone.

However, Rhys still requires constant care and medical attention. His tracheostomy can block, and we have seconds to react in order to save his life. Rhys needs 24/7 care, regular medical procedures every 90 minutes, and continuous monitoring. We have fewer machines to carry now, but when we go out, we still have a significant amount of medical equipment to manage.

In August, Rhys will begin a series of surgeries to reconstruct his upper airways using rib cartilage. This could involve up to 10 surgeries over the year. We continue to have weekly hospital appointments and carers to pay for, along with supporting Rhys's 1-2-1 care at preschool.

How You Can Help:

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported us so far. Rhys’s consultant believes Rhys has made such incredible progress because we haven’t “wrapped him in bubble wrap.” We’ve been able to care for Rhys thanks to the support of our amazing care team. We couldn’t leave the house without them, and they’ve helped us stay strong as parents, ensuring we’re not completely drained by the 24/7 care that Rhys requires.

Your donations will help us purchase essential equipment, pay for carers, and ensure that Rhys has everything he needs to continue his journey and improve his quality of life. Thank you so much for your generosity!

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