Just4Children are raising monies to fund specialist therapy, treatment and equipment. Isla’s dream to live a more independent life where she would be able to sit on her own, stand, and eventually one day take independent steps.
Isla is a 3 year old girl who lives in Stockport, South Manchester. Isla was born with Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy which means her legs are mainly affected, however she struggles with fine motor skills. Isla’s life has been impacted greatly so far as she can’t sit independently, crawl, walk or talk. Isla is nicknamed Isla the Smiler as despite all the pain and frustration in her life she knows how to have a laugh.
Isla was born at 27 weeks gestation as a result of her mum being admitted to hospital at 24 weeks having suffered a placental abruption. A lack of oxygen at an extremely premature birth caused Isla to have a seizure, causing brain damage. Doctors told us it was likely Isla would develop Cerebral Palsy from the brain damage present on the ultrasound. News which was hard to swallow after what had already been a tough month.
The first few weeks of Isla’s life were touch and go. She was ventilated immediately at birth so her body could recover, and was eventually weened onto oxygen before learning to breathe on her own. Whilst the brain damage could not be reversed Isla never ceased to amaze us day after day. She spent 107 days in hospital before being discharged home.
At this stage, there were still lots of unknowns. We didn’t know the severity of Isla’s cerebral palsy.
Fast forward 3 years and Isla scores 3 to 4 out of 5 on the Gross Motor Funciton Classification System. The GMFCS, is a five-level classification that differentiates children with cerebral palsy based on the child’s current gross motor abilities, limitations in gross motor function, and need for assistive technology and wheeled mobility.
Isla just wants to be able to do what other two year olds can do. She is an adrenaline junkie and loves being thrown in the air, anything that goes fast, massive slides, being pushed fast on swings, singing, kids YouTube, sensory objects and messy play.
Like all parents all we want is for Isla to be happy. Isla is quite irritable, upset and uncomfortable most of the time, due to severe spasticity, dystonia, severe constipation and sleep deprivation. Isla doesn’t sleep much because her body is constantly waking her up with involuntary spasms.
Why are Just4Children raising money?
Weekly therapy for a year costs £4,500.
Intensive therapy four times a year costs £1,700. We would love to be able to take Isla to an intensive therapy centre away from our house too.
Weekly speech therapy for a year costs £7,280
Then there are other therapies that would be beneficial for Isla (e.g. hydro) equipment costs, specialist toys and communication aids, specialists we speak to about Isla’s various additional needs (e.g mouthing, play therapy). Uunfortunately, the list is endless and specialist equipment is so expensive.
Sadly, there is no cure for CP and Isla will need therapy for life. Physio and other therapy will mean that as Isla grows she is less likely to experience a lot of pain from the spasticity in her body.
Just4Children are raising money to give Isla the best chance of enjoying life and living it to the fullest.
If you are able to help in these difficult times we would be humbled, and along with Isla, grateful for a lifetime. Likewise, if you are able to share and follow Isla’s Instagram page this helps us raise awareness about cerebral palsy and tell Isla’s story to more people we would be equally appreciative.
Follow Isla on Instagram
