In December 2024, our son Eliseo, who is a twin and an IVF baby, was born extremely premature at just 28 weeks. So far, he has had to spend more than 7 months in the hospital.

In this time, Eliseo has already undergone 13 surgeries, which were mostly on his brain, and our family has faced multiple incredibly frightening and uncertain periods with him.

He has a condition called hydrocephalus that requires the placement of two VP shunts as his Ventricles don’t communicate with each other, and due to meningitis, he has multiple, large cysts throughout his brain. Eliseo has previously suffered grade 4 brain bleeds. His shunts are life-saving for him, but they will require many adjustments and replacements throughout his life as they are prone to getting blocked.

In May, Eliseo became critically ill with his second case of meningitis, spending nine weeks in the hospital, requiring three brain drains and one-to-one care.

More recently, Eliseo was diagnosed with a rare and severe form of epilepsy called infantile spasms (West syndrome). This condition is a rare and severe form of epilepsy that affects brain development and requires early, specialised treatment.

We are fundraising to help Eliseo access vital care he will need throughout his life, including:

• Stem cell treatment. Unfortunately, this is an expensive procedure, not a one-time treatment, and is only accessible to Eliseo abroad in countries such as Panama, Mexico, and the USA. To see the benefits of this treatment, it's best to repeat it alongside intensive therapy to support Eliseo's development, quality of life, and future specialised treatment.

• Occupational Therapy

• Hydrotherapy

• Weekly Physiotherapy

At present, Eliseo has minimal movement. He has very low muscle tone, is unable to lift or control his head and has significant developmental delays. While his future remains uncertain, what we do know is that he will never have an everyday life, and he will require lifelong care and support. Doctors have told us that it's doubtful that he will ever walk or talk. Early intervention is absolutely crucial to give him the best possible quality of life.

Elesio is under the care of an eye clinic because he is unable to track or focus with his eyes. We are still waiting for further tests to determine the extent of his vision and whether he can see.

As parents, we never imagined we would have to ask for help like this. We are doing everything in our power to support our son, but the cost of specialised therapies and treatments is overwhelming.

Every donation, no matter the size, will help give Eliseo the best possible chance. If you’re unable to donate, sharing his story means just as much.

Our son has already survived more in his first year of life than most people face in a lifetime.”

This is our son’s fight for a future.