Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Myself and my husband Michael are raising money for West Of Scotland Deaf Children's Society. A charity which is close to our hearts.

My son Cruz, 6 years old, was born with LEOPARD syndrome, a very rare genetic disorder, with only around 200 cases reported worldwide and an estimated prevalence of less than 1 in 1,000,000 people. Although he does not have every symptom associated with the condition, he has faced significant challenges from the very beginning. He was diagnosed with severe cardiac issues — hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and pulmonary valve stenosis — which meant he had to undergo open heart surgery at just six months old. While the surgery was lifesaving, he will live with his heart condition for the rest of his life. Cruz also has profound hearing loss and received cochlear implants at the age of 2 years old, enabling him to hear and develop his speech. The West of Scotland Deaf Society provided invaluable early support, helping us understand his deafness and giving Cruz opportunities to socialise with other deaf children and build friendships. He also has ADHD, which brings additional daily challenges. Despite everything he has faced in his short life, Cruz embraces life to the fullest — he is incredibly sociable, loves to dance, and gets so excited about going on holiday. His resilience, courage, and joy are truly inspiring to everyone who knows him.