We are so proud to introduce Isla, our smart, beautiful, and funny daughter. Isla is a bright, inquisitive 5-year-old girl who, owing to a birth injury, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and needs lots of regular therapy to help her.

Isla made a speedy entry to the world but tragically, suffered a hypoxic incident and had to be resuscitated at birth, transferred to another hospital for medical cooling and spent the first 5 weeks of her life in intensive care. It was 5 whole days before we were able to hold our precious, much longed-for baby.

A little more about our super star.Isla is non-ambulant but walks with a walker, is non-verbal, however has a high level of receptive and expressive language using different methods of communication aids, including eye-gaze, PODD book, partner assisted scanning and switches. In terms of language, she is currently working on Shape Coding to form stories. Isla shows so much determination, has a great sense of humour and loves to cause mischief and laugh out loud!

Isla has privately funded physiotherapy and other forms of intensive therapy weekly, including hydrotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language. These therapies are helping increase Islas core strength, head control, limb strength and her ability to communicate. The more therapy and access to specialised equipment we can give Isla, especially in the formative years, the more we help her to reach her optimum potential and hopefully allow her some independence.

Intensive therapy is extremely important for children like Isla, but there is little provision for specialist intensive therapy in the UK. Our hope therefore is to make bi-annual trips to NAPA Centres for 3-week blocks of intensive therapy which aim to help Isla build new neural connections and assist her towards sitting unaided, weight bearing and having better control of her upper limbs. Working on her communication skills is also a key goal as, Isla certainly has a lot she wants to say! At present NAPA only have centres in America and Australia but hope to open a new centre in the UK this winter.

Isla has an infectious smile, tries SO hard and brings joy to everyone she meets. Helping Isla the Incredible to reach her full potential would be the best gift we could ever give her.

We thank you for any support you can offer our incredible little girl.

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