Charlie arrived in the world in a dramatic fashion. Born 10 weeks early by emergency surgery, Charlie was rushed into neonatal intensive care, where he stayed for 5 weeks. On the second day, we were given the shocking news that Charlie had sustained significant brain injury. The injury would cause disabilities in his speech, sight, ability to walk, and use of his hands. We were speechless and utterly devastated.

At 4 months, Charlie was diagnosed with severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, and at 6 months, he was diagnosed with cortical vision impairment (CVI). Charlie is registered as severely visually impaired. Not much is known about cortical vision impairment, and there are only a few professionals in the world who are currently researching and trying to understand the condition.

The first thought that came to my mind, as a mother, after hearing the diagnosis of his vision impairment, was that Charlie would never be able to see my face—his own mother. Neither would he be able to see the face of his father, little brother, grandparents, aunts, cousins, and all the people around him who love him so dearly. Charlie will not be able to see the colourful and beautiful world around him, like the trees, the blue sky, or the birds. This was the most heart-rending news.

At 18 months, Charlie underwent a brain MRI scan which confirmed the severity of the damage to his brain.

Charlie requires an SDR (Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy) operation to reduce the spasticity (stiffness and tightness) in the muscles of his legs. He is unable to crawl, sit unsupported, stand, or walk independently.

The SDR procedure will help stop Charlie's legs from scissoring so that he will be able to walk with assistance.

The procedure will be done under general anaesthesia and takes around four to five hours. An incision is made in the spine, and using an operating microscope, the sensory roots in the spinal cord are identified. Each sensory nerve root is subdivided into four or five rootlets. Each rootlet is then stimulated to identify the ones that contribute most to the spasticity. These rootlets are then divided. The process is repeated for all the other nerve roots, from L1 to S2, on both sides, aiming to divide 50 to 70 percent of the sensory roots.

In order for the operation to be a success, we are raising funds to provide Charlie with the much-needed physiotherapy to strengthen him in preparation for the surgery. After the surgery, he will require even more physiotherapy, together with the specialist equipment he needs along his journey.

Charlie is a very sociable boy and loves chocolate as much as the next person (see how happy he was when he had his first taste of chocolate! See photo above). He has a lovely sense of humour and is very affectionate.

Please help us make a change in Charlie's life by either donating or holding fundraising events.

Thank you very much,

Jo, Tim, Charlie, and Nico Oliver

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.