My son Ryan had a very traumatic entrance into this world, he had been born with his cord coiled around his neck, he was unable to breathe, doctors had tried to get him breathing but he couldn't and it was at this point they discovered he had merconium aspiration ( he filled his lungs leaving no room for air with a motion that he passed whilst still in the womb, due to the distress from a traumatic labor). Ryan didn't breathe-Ryan couldn't breathe. Ryan had to be recusitated not once but twice, doctors fought to get his heart beating whilst getting him attached to machines to mimmic the lungs that would feed the oxygen through his body top keep him alive. 

It took a long time to get Ryan stable enough to for us as parents to even see our little boy. He was fighting to stay alive. He was baptized within the first few hours under doctors advice as his life was in jeopardy. Our little boy was a fighter he beat the odds and stayed alive with all the help from the doctors, nurses and room full of machines.

After his initial struggle was over we were told that Ryan suffered a stroke and had partial agenisus of the corpus collosum ( the middle section which connects the left and right side of the brain was partially missing). Whilst his small body was fighting his brain was taking the toll. What else had our little boy to fight against. Our only thoughts were that Ryan was alive and whatever else was to come with Ryan didn't matter, we would cope-HE would cope. 

The trauma of birth and not being able to breathe had damaged Ryans brain, but to what extent we would slowly find out as he got better. Ryan overcame the struggles of hospital, after just a few weeks he was able to breathe on his own and after a few setbacks Ryan was able to be held for the first time, a day that will stay in our hearts forever.

The day came when we were told that Ryan was allowed home! This was a day filled with the upmost joy a parent can feel. Our little boy was coming home.

As Ryan got stronger and bigger the tests began on his tiny brain to see how much damage was done. We were told that Ryan had epilepsy, that the muscle tone over his body had been effected (Cerebal Palsy), that part of his brain had no blood supply at all and very little blood was gettin to the nerves in his eyes. He also has a condition called nystagmus which is a continuous uncontrolled to and fro movement of the eye. He cannot focus on an object as his eyeballs constantly shake. He has little or no vision in his right eye. Ryans world would not look the same as ours.  We still have to wait until he was older to see how this would effect him.

Ryan again had to start his fight. It took Ryan alot longer than other babies to simply just smile, things that us as parents take for granted. He was unable to sit by himself, he needed Physiotherapy to eventually roll over, put his hands together and eventually sit-up, crawl and eventually walk, things we never thought we would see.

What would the future hold for Ryan and what could we do as parents to help! After alot of research, help from family and friends we found out about Mencap, an association with the sole purpose to help people with learning disablilities, helping them to live life to their full potential.

We were put in touch with their childrens department, a nursery (Segal House)was available, a place where Ryan could get his therapies (Physio,Occuptaional, Speech and Feeding) all under one roof in a friendly, unclinical environment. Ryan was able to meet other children with learning difficulties and us as parents were able to meet their parents and families to share stories and offer support. As a family we knew we were getting support for the present and for the future.

 Segal House has helped Ryan aged just two to walk, talk,stand strong, communicate and interact with others. These things a year ago we thought Ryan would never do, but Segal Hose enables children with learning disablilites to achive. We as parents had help and support and Ryan is loved and looked after in home away from home environment that he loves.

Ryan is now thrifing.Ryan has very little sight but as you can see from the photographs above he is amazing, he has had to fight from the word go, and life will always bring him difficulties but with his determination, love from his family and help from others such as mencap. Ryan can reach the stars!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please read about Mencap (Segal House) and all the wonderful work and love they provide. We are raising money to help them continue helping others. Without donations Segal House wouldn't be able to maintain the help and intervention that children with learning difficultiies need.

 

Segal house helps my son Ryan to no longer fight through life but to live life as any child has the right to do.

Segal House(Mencap) provides an integrated and family-friendly learning and development setting for children with a learning disability or a developmental delay. The nursery, delivered in partnership with Belfast health and social care trust, encourages each child to reach his or her own potential.

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