My name is Raphael, and I am 14 years old. I was born at just 24 weeks, far too early, which caused a brain bleed that nearly took my life. My mum couldn’t cuddle me for two weeks, and even then, I was too fragile to be out of my incubator for long.

I spent the first six months of my life in intensive care. In my first week alone, doctors told my parents twice to prepare for my funeral as I wasn’t expected to survive. Even if I did, they were told I would have severe brain damage.

It was during those moments, as my parents sat holding my tiny hand, watching me fight for my life in the incubator and praying for a miracle, that they promised me something: if I survived, they would do everything they could to give me the best life possible.

I fought so hard, and now my mum and dad are asking for your help to make my fight worthwhile by raising money for special equipment that will give me the best chance to reach my full potential and achieve my dream of becoming independent.

The brain bleed left me with severe cerebral palsy, which means my muscles don’t respond the way I want them to. The harder I try to move, the harder it gets. But while my body doesn’t cooperate, my mind is sharp. I understand when people talk to me, and I laugh and giggle like any other teenager. Although I can’t do the same activities as other teens, inside, I’m just like them. I love listening to music, swimming, horseback riding, and playing on computers using my eyegaze technology. Eyegaze allows me to communicate, learn, and control many aspects of my life. Through it, I can use the TV, read, play music, and control my bedroom lights. I’m even learning to DJ with it!

My early years were full of challenges. I endured many painful procedures, including repeated lumbar punctures and brain surgery at just two weeks old to stop swelling and further brain damage. I also suffered a broken hip that went undiagnosed for weeks, leaving lasting damage. This means one of my legs is now shorter than the other, which makes using my walker difficult and will require surgery in the future.

My life is filled with doctor and therapy appointments and daily exercises, many of which are painful. Going out has become harder as I’ve grown because my wheelchair is not always easy to transport. Despite these challenges, there are therapies and equipment that can improve my mobility, quality of life, and independence—and make all the difference during these critical teenage years.

Update 2023:

Thanks to your generous donations, I’ve made fantastic progress through ongoing therapies, and I’m now a competent eyegaze user! However, I need further support to continue therapy and to fund equipment that will increase my independence as I grow. Below are some of the things I’m hoping to achieve:

Our Hopes:

Eyegaze Controller for Powered Wheelchair:

My most urgent wish is for independent movement. I have a powered wheelchair, but I’ve never been able to use it myself because I have no controlled movement in my arms. However, there’s now a system called AbleDrive that allows me to control my wheelchair using eyegaze technology. This would give me freedom to move independently—something I’ve never experienced. It would even let me “dance” to music, which I’d love. This system costs £7,000.

Hydrotherapy:

This therapy helps relax my muscles, reduce spasms, and build strength and balance. It’s one of the only times I feel relief from my daily pain.

£15 pays for a 30-minute session with a trained physiotherapist.

Horse Riding:

Horseback riding is fantastic for improving balance, coordination, and core strength. It’s also one of the best ways to prevent hip dislocation, which is common in cerebral palsy. Riding gives me the freedom to feel movement like walking or running, and it’s something I absolutely love.

£55 pays for one session with the specialist horses and assistance I need.

Anat Baniel Method/Feldenkrais Therapy:

This therapy helps my brain develop new pathways to control my spasms and movements. It has already helped me achieve more controlled movements and greatly improved my comfort.

£45 per session, ideally in intensive blocks for maximum benefit.

Chiropractor:

Weekly chiropractic sessions have helped release tension in my body, improving my comfort and movement. My therapist even incorporates dancing into the sessions, helping my brain learn new muscle and nerve responses.

£55 per session.

Please help my mum and dad fulfill their promise to me. Every donation makes a difference and helps me move closer to my goals.

Thank you so much for your support!

Raphael

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.