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Meet the Mornin family!
Gareth and Lauren have been married for almost 10 years and live in Northern Ireland. Gareth is an Area Director at Young Life International, and Lauren works part-time in communications for the charity Mission Africa. They have two beautiful children: Joshua, aged 6, and Heidi, aged 3.
Heidi, their precious little girl, began having seizures at just 4 months old and was diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy called West Syndrome, and since progressing to Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). For 13 months, Heidi was seizure-free, allowing her to reach many of her developmental milestones.
Sadly, in February 2024, Heidi’s seizures returned, causing her to lose many of the skills she had gained. Despite multiple medications (with nasty side effects), steroids, and the ketogenic diet, Heidi continues to experience several types of seizures every day. Though she is 3½ years old, her developmental age is closer to 18 months due to significant learning difficulties. At present, Heidi attends a mainstream nursery school with a fantastic 1:1 classroom assistant, but we are hoping that she will get a place in a local special needs school for Primary 1 for September.
Despite these challenges, Heidi remains the most joyful little girl. Seizures affect her cognitive function, mobility, and sleep. Gareth and Lauren have invested in numerous safety measures, including a padded cap, padded mats around their home, a special needs buggy and dining seat, and most recently, a Safe Place 100 bed. These measures are designed to protect Heidi during seizures.
Gareth & Lauren are extremely grateful to the incredible care team supporting them within the NHS in Northern Ireland, but they are realising that medications alone are not enough to support Heidi’s development. They are now exploring treatments that would help her to reach developmental milestones and reduce seizures without the harsh side effects that come with medication. Unfortunately none of these are funded by the NHS.
As much as Gareth and Lauren are doing everything they can to support Heidi, the reality is that the combination of their two incomes is not enough to cover the growing costs of care that fall outside NHS support. The expenses required to give Heidi the best chance at development and improved quality of life continue to increase, while their income does not.
Update May 2026;
Gareth & Lauren are extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the support they’ve received so far—thank you so much to everyone who has donated and helped them reach their initial target of £6000 ($8000).
Because of this, they have been able to purchase Heidi a Nightwatch+ Seizure Watch which has significantly helped her sleep and given them a real peace during the night too. Heidi’s weekly sessions of Dynamic Movement Intervention continue each week and they are seeing real progress in Heidi’s ability to stand still and her coordination. Heidi’s brain and body work extremely hard to connect with one another in these session.
Gareth & Lauren are working alongside Embracing Nutrition in London to try find the root cause of Heidi’s seizures, the connection that they might have with her gut, and the impact it’s having on her development and are awaiting results of 3 different tests at present.
They are very aware that Heidi is living with a lifelong condition. The support she will need won’t end in the next year or so — and so they have been asked to share some on-going treatments/therapies and needs for Heidi throughout the following year:
1. Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI Therapy) - Continuing from Feb 2027 - Feb 2028
Cost estimate:
2. SwimLab International (Lanzarote) SwimLab International is a specialised intensive week-long program dedicated to helping children with complex neurological conditions build strength, mobility, and confidence through paediatric aquatic therapy.
Due to Heidi’s surgery in summer 2026, this would take place for 5 days in February 2027 consisting of 3 therapy sessions per day. Heidi’s weekly therapy maintains her development while an intensive program like SwimLab aims to accelerate it, giving her a greater opportunity to meet more milestones while she is still young.
Cost estimate:
3. Specialised Equipment
Heidi currently wears a Ribcap protective helmet to help protect her during drop seizures, and Billy Shoes to support her stability and balance. As she grows, both of these essential items will need to be replaced to ensure they continue to fit properly and provide the right level of support. Like much specialist equipment for children with additional needs, they are unfortunately costly, but they are vital for her safety, and independence.
Approx total cost for all approaches - £7000 ($9400)
Note: These treatment costs are estimates, as Heidi’s care plan evolves. If additional sessions or treatments are needed, I (Bill) will provide updates as the journey continues. Any funds raised will go directly toward helping Heidi access these therapies and resources.
Gareth and Lauren continue to trust God as they walk this difficult road with Heidi and they are extremely grateful to each of you for being part of Heidi’s story and for helping give this brave little girl the best opportunity to grow, develop, and live as fully and safely as possible.
They have created a WhatsApp Group to share monthly updates, if you would like to join so that you can pray and support this precious family - https://chat.whatsapp.com/JvLUtY2CFDg8qWR8jul8DH?mode=gi_t
Gareth and Lauren have been married for almost 10 years and live in Northern Ireland. Gareth is an Area Director at Young Life International, and Lauren works part-time in communications for the charity Mission Africa. They have two beautiful children: Joshua, aged 6, and Heidi, aged 3.
Heidi, their precious little girl, began having seizures at just 4 months old and was diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy called West Syndrome, and since progressing to Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). For 13 months, Heidi was seizure-free, allowing her to reach many of her developmental milestones.
Sadly, in February 2024, Heidi’s seizures returned, causing her to lose many of the skills she had gained. Despite multiple medications (with nasty side effects), steroids, and the ketogenic diet, Heidi continues to experience several types of seizures every day. Though she is 3½ years old, her developmental age is closer to 18 months due to significant learning difficulties. At present, Heidi attends a mainstream nursery school with a fantastic 1:1 classroom assistant, but we are hoping that she will get a place in a local special needs school for Primary 1 for September.
Despite these challenges, Heidi remains the most joyful little girl. Seizures affect her cognitive function, mobility, and sleep. Gareth and Lauren have invested in numerous safety measures, including a padded cap, padded mats around their home, a special needs buggy and dining seat, and most recently, a Safe Place 100 bed. These measures are designed to protect Heidi during seizures.
Gareth & Lauren are extremely grateful to the incredible care team supporting them within the NHS in Northern Ireland, but they are realising that medications alone are not enough to support Heidi’s development. They are now exploring treatments that would help her to reach developmental milestones and reduce seizures without the harsh side effects that come with medication. Unfortunately none of these are funded by the NHS.
As much as Gareth and Lauren are doing everything they can to support Heidi, the reality is that the combination of their two incomes is not enough to cover the growing costs of care that fall outside NHS support. The expenses required to give Heidi the best chance at development and improved quality of life continue to increase, while their income does not.
Update May 2026;
Gareth & Lauren are extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the support they’ve received so far—thank you so much to everyone who has donated and helped them reach their initial target of £6000 ($8000).
Because of this, they have been able to purchase Heidi a Nightwatch+ Seizure Watch which has significantly helped her sleep and given them a real peace during the night too. Heidi’s weekly sessions of Dynamic Movement Intervention continue each week and they are seeing real progress in Heidi’s ability to stand still and her coordination. Heidi’s brain and body work extremely hard to connect with one another in these session.
Gareth & Lauren are working alongside Embracing Nutrition in London to try find the root cause of Heidi’s seizures, the connection that they might have with her gut, and the impact it’s having on her development and are awaiting results of 3 different tests at present.
They are very aware that Heidi is living with a lifelong condition. The support she will need won’t end in the next year or so — and so they have been asked to share some on-going treatments/therapies and needs for Heidi throughout the following year:
1. Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI Therapy) - Continuing from Feb 2027 - Feb 2028
Cost estimate:
- £60 per session, weekly
- 50 sessions per year: £3000 ($4050)
2. SwimLab International (Lanzarote) SwimLab International is a specialised intensive week-long program dedicated to helping children with complex neurological conditions build strength, mobility, and confidence through paediatric aquatic therapy.
Due to Heidi’s surgery in summer 2026, this would take place for 5 days in February 2027 consisting of 3 therapy sessions per day. Heidi’s weekly therapy maintains her development while an intensive program like SwimLab aims to accelerate it, giving her a greater opportunity to meet more milestones while she is still young.
Cost estimate:
- SwimLab Intensive week - 15 sessions - £1700 ($2300)
- Flights from Dublin & 7 nights accommodation for Gareth, Lauren & Heidi to attend this week - £2000 ($2700)
- Total cost - £3700 ($5100)
3. Specialised Equipment
Heidi currently wears a Ribcap protective helmet to help protect her during drop seizures, and Billy Shoes to support her stability and balance. As she grows, both of these essential items will need to be replaced to ensure they continue to fit properly and provide the right level of support. Like much specialist equipment for children with additional needs, they are unfortunately costly, but they are vital for her safety, and independence.
- Ribcap Cap - £139 ($188)
- Billy Shoes - £100 ($135)
Approx total cost for all approaches - £7000 ($9400)
Note: These treatment costs are estimates, as Heidi’s care plan evolves. If additional sessions or treatments are needed, I (Bill) will provide updates as the journey continues. Any funds raised will go directly toward helping Heidi access these therapies and resources.
Gareth and Lauren continue to trust God as they walk this difficult road with Heidi and they are extremely grateful to each of you for being part of Heidi’s story and for helping give this brave little girl the best opportunity to grow, develop, and live as fully and safely as possible.
They have created a WhatsApp Group to share monthly updates, if you would like to join so that you can pray and support this precious family - https://chat.whatsapp.com/JvLUtY2CFDg8qWR8jul8DH?mode=gi_t