In true Olivia style we are coming out of our comfort zone and pushing ourselves. In her words, “the crazy girls are jumping 15,000 feet out of an areoplane and dad is dragging himself around the Royal Parks Half Marathon"

After being born at 24 weeks and weighing just 1lb 11oz less than a bag of sugar Olivia spent 5 months on oxygen in the high dependency unit at St Peters Hospital. We were thrilled when we were finally able to take her home but our world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, profoundly deaf and a severe sight impairment registered blind.

How would we cope? What did it all mean? Were we strong enough to get through this and most importantly what did the future hold for our beautiful baby girl?

Then came our Lifeline. We were lucky enough to be referred to White Lodge when Olivia was just 9 months old. She received weekly therapy sessions, attended the nursery and loved her time in the Hydrotherapy pool with her grandad and the freedom it gave her.

The guidance and support that we received as a family gave us the strength to look to the future.

The Hydrotherapy Pool was originally opened in 1962 and has been at the heart of White Lodge ever since. The current facility is in desperate need of modernisation and refurbishment along with the necessary replacement of specialist equipment. 

It is the only hydrotherapy facility in north Surrey offering support to a total of 156 children and 338 adults and it is in constant use 7 days a week. It provides therapy for a diverse range of disabilities that include Cerebral Palsy, Autism, ADHD, MS, Parkinson's, Motor Neurone Disease and those that have suffered a stroke or brain injury.

To be very blunt without the planned
refurbishment this wonderful resource may have to close !!

We have been on an amazing journey with our beautiful daughter
Olivia, who is full of determination and strength. The therapy team
continue to provide Physio for Olivia as she enters into adulthood and over the years the services and family support we received
at White Lodge has enabled Olivia to be independent, to reach her potential and given her the belief that having a disability should not
be a barrier, that anything is possible, and to follow your dreams.

For nearly 60 years White Lodge has helped to change the
lives of thousands of other individuals and families like ourselves.

As Olivia starts her 2^nd year at University and moves into her own flat in Twickenham we are once again asking for the support
of our amazing family and friends to share our page and spread the word and hopefully we can all help to ensure those with disabilities
have access to a world that is inclusive regardless of their ability
for the next 60 years.

Thank you

Love Olivia, Joe, Tania and Joy xx