Salem Edgar or Lemmy as we call him, was born 6 weeks premature after a placental abruption. It was a very traumatic experience and myself and Salem are both very lucky to be here.

From the moment I first got to hold him, I knew something was different. It took 18 months of fighting for my voice to be heard, I was even told my concerns about cerebral palsy were most likely caused by PTSD. However after a lot of fighting an MRI scan finally confirmed Salem’s diagnosis of bilateral spastic cerebral palsy. This affects his mobility, cognitive development and vision. He is also on the autistic pathway.

Salem is the happiest, funniest little boy and he’s incredibly brave. He’s had to fight so hard, coming home from hospital with sepsis at 2 weeks old, undergoing squint surgery on his eyes and having to work so hard to get skills that come easier to others. We could not be prouder of his determination! Salem currently uses a kaye walker to get about and our hope so that with continued intensive therapies we will be able to get him taking some independent steps. He is so desperate to be able to copy his big brother running around.

We have been working very hard to give Salem every opportunity we can while he’s little and his brain is still developing. We currently attend private physio weekly and then frequent intense sessions where he attends every day for 2 weeks at a time. Salem also does accupuncture weekly which he comes alway from so much happier and more relaxed. He always gives us a big sigh and tells us “that feels better” so we know it’s helping!

Currently as Lemmy unable to walk unaided we are in limbo with wheelchair services and are looking into specialist buggies which we will be funding ourselves. We hope that we can raise enough to purchase him a buggy, and also help fund his continued therapies.

Salem has taught me to be brave, I feel like I have grown so much because of him and he has taught me so much in such a short time. We want to be able to do everything we can possibly do to help ensure he continues to thrive and to have people’s support to do this means the absolute world!!

We would be looking to use donations to:

Get Salem a specialist buggy

Continue with as much physio therapy as we can

Pay for a disabled parking bay outside our home

Purchase any other equipment that may be required as he grows

Buy any other things that will help in the day to day of caring for a child with disability

Fund travel costs for treatments.

We appreciate any donation, or sharing of our page.

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.