Imogen learnt to sit up for the first time as a result of her first set of visits!

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1 Bobath Children s Therapy Centre Wales Sponsor a child like Imogen Every small milestone is a cause for celebration After a trouble-free pregnancy, Imogen s problems at birth came as a terrible shock. She took several weeks to stabilise her blood sugars, and she also had serious liver problems. Thankfully these all cleared up after around three months. However, we noticed after a while that she was having trouble rolling and sitting up and was struggling to hold things. She was our first baby so we didn t know what to expect, and children vary so much in how quickly they develop so we were not sure whether to worry or not. We were warned by Imogen s doctor that her slow development and stiffness might be cerebral palsy, and as time went by we accepted that this was right. It was difficult to come to terms with her condition, particularly as doctors can t predict how things will develop we just had to wait and see. It was hard for us to accept, to begin with, that we were not going to be able to completely mend Imogen by our own determination and efforts at therapy. Thankfully, as well as having excellent care from the medical professionals we see, Imogen was referred to Bobath Children s Therapy Centre Wales, and she received her first block of therapy before her second birthday. The staff there have made a huge difference Imogen learnt to sit up for the first time as a result of her first set of visits! Every small milestone is a cause for celebration. She is also starting to talk now and to string words together, which is very rewarding. Imogen s understanding and communication skills are good, and we are determined that her physical difficulties should not hold her back in life. Imogen is continuing with Bobath therapy and her progress is encouraging. But we know there are many other children like her in Wales who would also benefit from attending the Centre. Imogen s Mum. Making a difference to children in Wales who have cerebral palsy

2 You can help a child like Imogen Bobath Children s Therapy Centre Wales helps nearly 300 children throughout Wales and we know that there are even more children in Wales who need us that we are not yet seeing. We need your help. We need you to get involved and sponsor a child like Imogen. Your financial support will enable us to continue to provide specialist therapy to a child with cerebral palsy. It will help us to expand our capacity so we can see more children like Imogen who need us. Children are accepted regardless of the severity of their disability. At Bobath Children s Therapy Centre Wales we focus on the ability and not the disability. Why sponsor a child like Imogen? Because you are needed We are doing everything we can to raise the money needed each year to continue seeing the children who come to us and also to reach as many children as possible in Wales who need us. But we would love to do much more and with your help we can. We know there are many other children like her in Wales who would also benefit from attending the Centre Imogen s Mum Because you can make a difference to a child s life As well as a regular newsletter we will send you a twice yearly update on what s been happening with the children who come to us, the achievements they ve made and the way in which they have benefited from your support. What does your money do? The money you donate will go towards providing a child in Wales with specialist Bobath therapy.

3 5 a month can help a child: Attend a centre of excellence to receive life changing specialist Bobath therapy Play, learn and develop to their maximum potential Communicate their needs Develop the skills to become as independent as possible And provide the family with support, hope and a positive outlook for their child s future Your donation will make a real and positive difference to a child s life. If you are unable to give the suggested minimum donation please give what you can afford. We do everything we can to keep our costs down. Bobath has a policy of accountability and openness. We publish an annual report each year containing our financial statements which will be sent to each sponsor. It costs a lot of money to maintain and expand our work in order to reach every child like Imogen. Please think about sponsoring a child today and complete the details overleaf. Questions and Answers What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to a baby or young child s brain. This affects a child s ability to move and develop in the normal way. Did you know that: Cerebral palsy is the number one disability in children in the world Every 6 hours another child is born who will have cerebral palsy Any woman who is pregnant could have a child with cerebral palsy The incidence of cerebral palsy is not declining, largely due to the number of babies who survive being born prematurely Cerebral palsy can affect movement, sensation, perception, cognition, communication and eating and drinking. In some children, all of these functions may be affected

4 Please sponsor a child like Imogen today What is Bobath Therapy? Bobath Children s Therapy Centre Wales provides specialist physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy to children with cerebral palsy. Bobath therapists work together as a team to combine these disciplines to give each child the skills to explore their world, communicate their needs, maximise their potential and so improve their quality of life. Although the brain damage that occurs is permanent and there is no cure available, Bobath therapy makes a real and positive difference to the life of every child who has cerebral palsy. Every child who has cerebral palsy is affected differently; therefore each one needs an individual assessment and therapy plan. How much does sponsoring a child cost? We ask you to donate a minimum of just 5 a month - about the same amount as you might spend on lunch. That s only 16p a day which will help Bobath continue to provide specialist therapy to a child with cerebral palsy like Imogen who comes to our centre. While your 5 a month may not seem that much, it can achieve more than you can imagine - because your gift is a regular one, you can help us plan ahead, safe in the knowledge that we have some money coming in every month. It will also help us make sure we see more and more children like Imogen in Wales who really need us.

5 Can I find out the details of the child my money goes to? We are unable to give you details of a specific child to you as we have to respect every child s confidentiality. Imogen s mum was happy for her child s story to be printed to show the difference that coming to Bobath Children s Therapy Centre Wales can make to a child. We will send you an update on how your money is helping Imogen and other children like her as well as a regular newsletter, Annual Report and Accounts. As a sponsor, can I give more than my normal monthly contribution? Yes. Extra contributions are always welcome and will be used to help more children. The minimum 5.00 donation requested is only a suggestion - if you would like to donate more that is up to you. What happens if I no longer want to sponsor a child? We hope you ll never feel this way but if you do simply call or contact [email protected] Sponsorship can change your life too by knowing that you are making a difference to children in Wales who have cerebral palsy. Please help us to help our children by sponsoring a child. Designed & Printed by Kall Kwik Cardiff Registered Charity Number:

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