At four months old it was noticed that Dara didn’t use his left side like other babies his age. Investigations suspected Dara of having a stroke causing brain damage on the right hand side of his brain, the side of the brain which controls left hand side of his body. Dara was diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Due to weakness on his left side, Dara struggles to do the everyday baby tasks like crawling, eating and playing. 

A baby's brain is very flexible, and some of the functions of the damaged area can be taken over by undamaged parts of the brain in a process known as neuroplasticity. As such, early intervention therapies are key to help Dara reach his full potential. Children with cerebral palsy will need therapy for their entire life to help them grow and develop. Treatment for hemiplegic cerebral palsy focuses on controlling symptoms and retraining the body to recover as much ability as possible through rehabilitation therapy. Dara recently completed a 4 week privately funded course of CIMT (constraint induced movement therapy) and the results have been amazing so far! 

Unfortunately the NHS struggles to provide Dara with the intensity of care he requires to help him reach his full potential. The funds raised will go towards the various therapies for Dara, including Bobath therapy, rebound therapy, hydrotherapy, CIMT, bimanual therapy and speech and language therapy.

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 objects, then any funds that cannot be used will be transferred to be used for the general charitable purposes of Tree of Hope.