Meet Lyra.

Before she was three weeks old, Lyra nearly died.

At just two weeks old, she contracted a Group B Streptococcus (Strep B) infection that rapidly developed into sepsis and meningitis.

What makes Strep B so frightening is that it can be incredibly difficult to recognise. Lyra never developed a fever, one of the warning signs many parents are told to look for. Instead, her symptoms were subtle and non-specific. We later learned that the mottling on her skin could be a sign of serious infection, but at the time we had never heard of it.

When Lyra became seriously ill, she was rushed to hospital and quickly transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for specialist care. There, she suffered seizures and was admitted to intensive care. For more than a month, our lives revolved around hospital wards, machines, medications, and uncertainty. We watched our tiny baby endure more than any child should ever have to face, never knowing what the next hour would bring.

There were moments when we feared we might lose her.

But Lyra fought.

Against unimaginable odds, she survived.

Today, Lyra is still here. And every day, she reminds us just how much strength can exist in one small child.

The infection left Lyra with a severe brain injury called encephalomalacia, cortical visual impairment, infantile spasms, and a suspected movement disorder. These conditions affect how she sees, learns, moves, and experiences the world around her.

Doctors have warned us that she may never walk or talk independently.

But if you met Lyra, that is not what you would see.

You would see a bright, beautiful little girl with an infectious smile and a determination that has carried her through more in her first months of life than most people face in a lifetime.

And you would see her love of music.

Music is Lyra's joy. It is how she connects with the world around her. When she hears a familiar song, her face lights up. Through sound and rhythm, we see her engage, communicate, learn, and express herself in ways that can be difficult to access through other means. Music opens doors. It helps us understand who Lyra is, what captures her attention, and how she experiences the world around her.

Most importantly, it gives us hope.

That is why we are fundraising.

There is no cure for Lyra's brain injury. The greatest opportunity we have is to support her development during these early years, while her brain is still growing and creating new connections.

Research shows that early intervention can make a profound difference. During the first years of life, the brain has an extraordinary ability to adapt and build new pathways. This window of neuroplasticity offers opportunities that may never be as strong again. What we do now could shape Lyra's future for years to come.

Our goal is simple: to give Lyra every possible opportunity to thrive.

We are raising funds for specialist therapy intensives and interventions that are not available through standard services. These programmes are designed to help Lyra build communication skills, improve movement and engagement, strengthen developmental foundations, and maximise her potential during this critical stage of life.

The costs are significant. Individual therapy sessions can cost around £100, and intensive therapy blocks can cost approximately £4,000 before travel and accommodation expenses. As a family, we are committed to doing everything we can for Lyra, but we cannot do it alone.

Every therapy session is an opportunity.

An opportunity to build a new skill.

An opportunity to strengthen a connection in her developing brain.

An opportunity to help her engage more fully with the people and world she loves.

We cannot change what happened to Lyra.

But we can help shape what happens next.

No one can predict exactly what Lyra will achieve. What we do know is that she has already defied the odds. She survived sepsis, meningitis, seizures, and a life-threatening battle in intensive care. Every day she continues to show us her resilience, determination, and capacity to surprise us.

With the right support, we want to give her every chance to learn, communicate, grow, and experience the world in her own way.

Thank you for taking the time to read Lyra's story and for believing in her potential. Whether through a donation, a share, or simply spreading awareness of Strep B, your support means more to our family than words can express.

She fought to survive.

Now help us give her the chance to thrive.

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.