Ava is our 16-year-old treasure. She was born six weeks prematurely and initially appeared perfectly healthy. However, our world fell apart 10 days later when she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition that caused a life-threatening buildup of fluid in her brain. An infection had damaged every section of her brain, affecting her eyes and leaving her blind. Ava was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which affects all her limbs, has caused hip dislocations, and leaves her with complex, uncontrolled epilepsy.

Despite her challenges, Ava initially coped well and made slow but steady progress. She learned to sit independently, stand with support, feed herself, and say "Mum," "Dad," and "Nan." However, in March 2011, Ava’s shunt became blocked. The resulting fluid buildup in her brain was misdiagnosed, causing a delay in treatment. After surgery, we realized Ava had lost all the skills she had worked so hard to achieve. Seizures began taking control of her life, making progress incredibly difficult. It took two years to stabilize Ava after this trauma, but she began to fight back, and we started to recognize the little girl we once knew.

In the summer of 2013, we learned that Ava’s left hip had dislocated, and her right hip was also at risk. Our dreams of seeing her stand again were shattered.

Through one of Ava’s friends, we heard about the Adeli Medical Centre, where her friend had been making remarkable progress through regular visits. We wondered if they could help Ava. In September 2013, we took her for a two-week course of intensive rehabilitation. The program was unlike anything she had done before, and there were moments we worried if we had made the right decision. However, within 48 hours, we saw a difference! By the end of the stay, Ava had graduated. She worked incredibly hard, and we were so proud. The results were staggering—her spasticity was reduced by over 50%! For the first time in years, her legs, which had been locked together, could open 8 cm. She was able to wrap her legs around my waist, her posture improved, and her awareness and responsiveness increased. It felt like we had been given back the little girl we had lost.

Since that first trip, Ava has returned to Adeli five times. Each visit brought new progress: improved awareness and understanding, better concentration and listening skills, increased speech sounds, enhanced upper body strength, improved posture, and head control. She even hugged us for the first time and started laughing—an incredibly magical milestone!

On November 22, 2014, Ava said "Mummy" for the first time and has since been making more speech sounds.

We are now fortunate to access home-based therapy for Ava. She is under the care of the incredible Neil Webster at Mini Wonders Children’s Physiotherapy, receiving weekly sessions at home where she feels most confident. This therapy has become essential as Ava grows quickly, with her muscles struggling to keep up, causing back and joint pain. We constantly battle to avoid surgeries for scoliosis and hip dysplasia. Since 2019, Aaron from the Great Little OT Practice has joined our team, helping develop postural care plans and providing regular therapy input. Thanks to these efforts, we’ve avoided surgeries once deemed inevitable! Ava’s brother George has also joined Mini Wonders as a physio assistant, regularly supporting Ava and others like her.

Your support also funds weekly one-on-one music therapy sessions with the wonderful Emily Grimes Music Therapy Service. Music has always been magical for Ava, reaching her even during her most difficult times of pain or trauma. The first time she ever responded to her name was in a music therapy session. Ava comes alive during these sessions, communicating with her therapist in truly extraordinary ways.

Your fundraising has also helped us purchase specialist equipment for Ava. While the NHS provides basic necessities like wheelchairs, we often need to fund items that significantly improve her comfort and quality of life. Ava always strives to be her best, and we do everything we can to ensure she has the tools to make that possible.

We deeply appreciate your continued support—it means the world to us, and we couldn’t do this without you!

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.