On the 1st of January, Barrie and Steph (pictured above!) gave birth to a wonderful baby boy called Joseph.
Joseph was born with severe Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain injury which happens when a baby’s brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and blood. HIE can lead to a number of illnesses including Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, visual and hearing impairments and behavioural and cognitive disorders. At this stage it's hard to predict what challenges Joe will face in the future.
Joe spent the first seven months of his life in hospital but finally came homewith his mum and dad in August. On a day to day basis Joseph is fed via a gastrostomy tube for 18 hours a day as he unable to feed orally. Due to his absent swallow and cough reflexes he requires frequent oral and nasal suction, sometimes 10-15 times an hour. He often suffers from lung infections and pneumonia due to these secretions as well as a compromised immune system. His motor skills, speech and neurodevelopment are also all significantly affected. This means that Barrie and Steph are providing round the clock care for Joseph.
Unfortunately, in October, Barrie was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy nerve cells in your body. It has affected his limbs, causing weakness and numbness, and is affecting his mobility. Having been treated in hospital for ten days, Barrie is now recuperating at home but doctors are unable to say when he will be well enough to return to work. As Barrie is self-employed he has no sick pay or insurance as back up for this difficult time.
We need your help to support Steph, Barrie and Joseph. We want to make sure that they can continue to be the amazing parents that they are, and can focus on providing Joseph with all the care and support he needs, despite the difficult circumstances they now find themselves in. For example, they may need to bring in additional care for Joseph whilst Barrie is recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and to cover the costs of private therapies for Joseph which aren't available on the NHS, especially in the longer term. We want to make sure that Joseph can lead the fullest, happiest and healthiest life possible.
Gifts large or small are much appreciated.
Joseph was born with severe Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE), a type of brain injury which happens when a baby’s brain doesn’t receive enough oxygen and blood. HIE can lead to a number of illnesses including Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy, visual and hearing impairments and behavioural and cognitive disorders. At this stage it's hard to predict what challenges Joe will face in the future.
Joe spent the first seven months of his life in hospital but finally came homewith his mum and dad in August. On a day to day basis Joseph is fed via a gastrostomy tube for 18 hours a day as he unable to feed orally. Due to his absent swallow and cough reflexes he requires frequent oral and nasal suction, sometimes 10-15 times an hour. He often suffers from lung infections and pneumonia due to these secretions as well as a compromised immune system. His motor skills, speech and neurodevelopment are also all significantly affected. This means that Barrie and Steph are providing round the clock care for Joseph.
Unfortunately, in October, Barrie was diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy nerve cells in your body. It has affected his limbs, causing weakness and numbness, and is affecting his mobility. Having been treated in hospital for ten days, Barrie is now recuperating at home but doctors are unable to say when he will be well enough to return to work. As Barrie is self-employed he has no sick pay or insurance as back up for this difficult time.
We need your help to support Steph, Barrie and Joseph. We want to make sure that they can continue to be the amazing parents that they are, and can focus on providing Joseph with all the care and support he needs, despite the difficult circumstances they now find themselves in. For example, they may need to bring in additional care for Joseph whilst Barrie is recovering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome and to cover the costs of private therapies for Joseph which aren't available on the NHS, especially in the longer term. We want to make sure that Joseph can lead the fullest, happiest and healthiest life possible.
Gifts large or small are much appreciated.
Organizer and beneficiary
Roisin Joyce
Organizer
Stephanie Swann
Beneficiary