Just4Children are fundraising to provide Rome with vital therapies to bring him one step closer to standing, walking, and living life to the fullest.
Meet Rome, a bright, brave, and beautiful baby boy from Reading, Berkshire. From the moment he entered this world, Rome has been a fighter. Rome was born not breathing, with no heartbeat. He needed extensive resuscitation. It took several minutes to get his heart beating and it took 22 minutes for Rome to take his first breath.
After 45 minutes of intensive efforts, doctors finally stabilised him enough to be transferred to the NICU. Rome was critically ill, battling sepsis, and yet, by some miracle, he extubated himself upon arrival and began breathing room air on his own. Soon after being admitted to the NICU, he was also diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, requiring urgent and aggressive antibiotic treatment. The following two weeks were the hardest we’ve ever endured.
He was diagnosed with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE). An MRI revealed moderate brain damage affecting several areas responsible mostly for motor control. We were told Rome would likely develop cerebral palsy. The doctors prepared us for the possibility that he might never smile, laugh, crawl, talk, walk, or eat on his own. He suffered seizures and was placed on strong anti-seizure medication.
After 15 days in the NICU, on May 22nd, Rome came home. Despite everything, he had made incredible progress – he was breastfeeding well, slowly weaned off the strongest seizure medications, and showing signs of resilience that amazed even his doctors.
Since then, the journey has been so incredibly tough, but Rome has continued to defy expectations. By 8 months old he was off all seizure medications. At 12-months-old Rome received a working diagnosis of dyskinetic Cerebal Palsy. He is delayed in some areas, but he is exceeding expectations in so many ways – he smiles, laughs, rolls, sits mostly unassisted, eats lots of food (and loves it), is using a walker to try to walk and is working on moving in and out of different positions! He even tries to clap and wave! He is such a character, so full of joy and determination.
To give him the best chance at an independent and fulfilling life, Rome needs £8,000 a year for vital therapy. While we receive NHS support, therapy sessions are limited, and it’s simply not enough to give Rome the best chance at reaching his full potential. The first few years of life are the most crucial for brain development due to neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to form new connections and adapt. Early intervention is vital in helping Rome maximise his potential, as this window of rapid growth and change will not last forever. The more access he has to high-quality therapy now, the greater his chances of developing important motor skills and independence in the future. This is why we’ve sought private therapy, and the improvements we’ve seen have been nothing short of incredible.
Rome attends:
• Craniosacral Therapy (every two weeks at a cost of £30 per session)
• Chiropractic and MNRI reflex integration therapy (weekly at a cost of £50 per session)
• Intensive therapy in London and Liverpool ( one week every couple of months at a cost of around £280 per day)
• Swimming lessons in a hydrotherapy pool (weekly at a cost of £20 per session)
• Private Physiotherapy (biweekly at a cost of £90 per session)
These therapies cost over £1,000 per month, not including travel, parking, and other expenses. Every session helps Rome grow stronger and we can see this remarkable change, but we need help to continue providing him with the care he deserves.
