This is my three-year-old nephew Huxley.

Huxley had a terribly traumatic birth where he suffered a catastrophic brain injury, leaving him with a fractured skull, an edema the size of his head and a lack of oxygen to his brain.

He started having seizures on day two of his life whilst in a coma, and we were told it was unlikely that he would breathe on his own once they removed his intubation tube and that we may want to say our goodbyes. Huxley had other ideas.....he fought hard to breathe, feed and defied all odds to make it home.

We soon learned that the damage to his brain was far greater than initially thought and he was diagnosed as Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, with global developmental delay. We were told his condition would mean that he would have no independent movement and be unable to sit, roll, crawl, talk, see or feed himself, experiencing multiple seizures a day.

Much of what was predicted has been borne out, yet Huxley continues to defy the odds achieving small victories that are giant for him and his body.

He is a fighter with the most extraordinary spirit and personality, and a smile that can light up the world. Huxley loves the world, and to know Huxley is to love him.

But Huxley's severe cerebral palsy and ongoing seizures leave him very vulnerable. A small cold in one child can put Huxley in hospital for weeks, struggling to breathe.

We just had one such stay in hospital where Huxley stopped breathing on three occasions. Oxygen, nebulisers and chest physio kept him with us. 

I want Huxley to be with us for a long time. But I want that time to be the best, most joy-filled time possible, where Huxley has access to the best possible care and experiences.  

We know Huxley won't lead a normal life and there are some things he will never be able to do, but giving him every opportunity to develop, so that maybe one day he can support himself in his chair to play with his friends to feel like a normal boy is a dream that we can build on.

With your donations to Just4Children, we can fund more intensive specialist physiotherapy and equipment, such as specialised wheelchairs, and the opportunity for selective surgery. Donations will also help with his specialised home care, to make him as comfortable as possible and to support his therapies.

I've selected a modest amount to raise but, oh I would love to give him more. And whatever you can give will be so, so appreciated.

Thank you xxx