Our precious little boy, Mason, was born unexpectedly on 16th June 2021 at just 24 weeks, weighing only 715g. He spent the first four months of his life fighting for survival in the NICU at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Those first weeks in intensive care were the hardest time of our lives. Nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to face. In the beginning, we didn’t even know if Mason would survive. Matt and I were suddenly thrown into a world of medical terminology, machines, and constant alarms. We learned how to read the monitors, change his tiny nappy through the incubator windows, and tube feed him.

The hardest part for me was not being able to hold my baby boy. We would sit beside his incubator for hours, watching the screens and praying the alarms wouldn’t sound as his breathing fluctuated.

Then the unthinkable happened — Mason’s lungs collapsed. We were shown his X-ray and told he was on 100% oxygen. We were taken into a private room where doctors gently explained that Mason might not make it through the night. They told us they would do everything they could, but they couldn’t make any promises.

That evening, just after 11pm, Mason was christened beside his incubator by the hospital chaplain. Looking back, it was an incredibly special moment, but one filled with overwhelming emotion and fear about what the next few hours might bring.

But Mason had other plans.

By the next morning, he had made it through the night. Over the following weeks he slowly grew stronger, moving step by step through the NICU rooms. After four very long months, we were finally able to bring our brave little boy home in October.

After coming home, Mason continued to attend neonatal follow-up appointments. Around a year later we began to notice he wasn’t reaching the same developmental milestones as other children his age. At first we were reassured this could simply be due to his extreme prematurity. However, during one of his follow-up appointments, doctors told us they believed Mason had cerebral palsy.

Our world was turned upside down.

An MRI scan later confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral cerebral palsy. We were told that Mason may never walk independently and that he could become a full-time wheelchair user.

Right now, we don’t know exactly what Mason’s future will look like. Only time will tell. But what we do know is that he is an incredible little boy. He is always smiling, full of determination, and he never lets his cerebral palsy hold him back. Since starting school in September, he continues to amaze us every single day.

At school, Mason is predominantly in his wheelchair so that he can move around safely and take part in activities with his classmates. Every day he also uses a walker and a standing frame, helping him build strength and develop his mobility. We remain hopeful that with time, therapy, and determination, Mason may one day be able to walk independently.

Mason currently has an NHS-funded wheelchair, however it does not fully meet his needs. It is too big and heavy for him to manoeuvre comfortably or confidently, which limits his independence.

We are fundraising to purchase a more suitable, lightweight wheelchair that will allow Mason to move more freely, build confidence, and take part in everyday activities with greater independence. Having the right wheelchair will make a huge difference to his quality of life.

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of friends, family, and our community, we have already raised some money towards Mason’s wheelchair. However, we still need to raise an additional £3,000 to reach the amount required.

To help raise the remaining funds, Matt will be completing a 15,000ft skydive alongside a great friend, Iain.

This incredible challenge will take place on Saturday 6th June 2026, and they will be jumping to help Mason get the wheelchair he needs.

Any additional money raised will also help cover the ongoing costs of maintenance, servicing, and repairs, ensuring Mason can continue to use the wheelchair safely as he grows.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read Mason’s story. Any donation, no matter how small, and any share of this page would mean the world to our family and will help Mason continue to thrive.