Fix Freddie’s Leg

This is not something I would usually do as someone who is so incredibly private about life but when your child is in need you find yourself doing things you wouldn’t normally do!


Three weeks ago our life was turned upside down when our amazing 10y old son Freddie was involved in an accident where a car unfortunately crushed his leg against a metal bollard. 

He suffered significant injuries to his leg...
•Fractured distal femur
•Popliteal Artery Dissection 
•Rhabdomyolysis (CK peaked at 55,000, this should be below 5000 for our non-medical friends) secondary to a crush injury and subsequent compartment syndrome.  


After being air lifted to Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital he underwent 9 hours of emergency surgery to fix his femur, had a fempop bypass using a vein graft from his right thigh and had 2 prophylactic fasciotomies. Three days later he underwent  surgery for further release of the fasciotomies and split thickness skin grafts. 


Freddie spent 4  days in ITU and a total of 2 weeks in hospital. It was a constant rollercoaster just when we thought he was improving there would be set backs: Cardiology problems, Nephrology problems, pressure sores.

All this made harder thanks to Covid and only one parent being allowed on the ward at any one time.  Neil and I barely saw each other for those 2 weeks, we tagged teamed shifts with Freddie, taking it in turns to sleep at the Ronald McDonald room kindly provided to us. I spent the longest I’ve ever spent away from Bertie but he was absolutely amazing and totally spoilt by Uncle Enda and Auntie Sarah

Freddie has done amazingly, however, he still has a long way to go. He has significant nerve damage to his perineal nerve and is getting frequent muscle spasms, neuralgia and numbness. He has reduced to no sensation in his leg and foot, limited movement in his knee and is unable to move his ankle. He also has foot drop.

He has started physiotherapy at our local hospital where we are being seen once a fortnight, with home physio being done by ourselves daily in between. We won’t know when or if the nerve will recover or how much motor function Freddie will regain.  

We want to give him the best chance possible at returning to his active lifestyle, which is why I’m writing this and asking for your support.

Hydrotherapy is available on the NHS but is very limited,  even more so given current Covid-19 restrictions. So we are looking to privately fund intensive hydrotherapy and physiotherapy to try and  help him regain full use of his leg again. Each hydrotherapy session costs £80 plus a £50 pool hire fee, so the costs will soon add up.

We also need to consider the psychological impact the accident and subsequent injuries have had on Freddie. He will no doubt need some form of play therapy / counselling which again will need to be self funded as the NHS provision in South Wales is severely underfunded and extremely oversubscribed.

Before the accident Freddie was a strong swimmer, swimming twice a week. He recently achieved his Silver Life Saving Certificate and last year his 1 mile badge! He loves the water and the physio’s have said hydrotherapy will be ideal once Freddie’s wounds have healed. The temperature of the water helps muscles to relax which can reduce pain & muscle spasms and improve mobility. He had only just gotten back in the pool after Covid closures so is gutted to be missing out again and desperate to get back. 

I know the last few months have been tough financially for many thanks to Covid, but if you do have any spare pennies to put towards Freddie’s recovery we would be ever so grateful. Also if you could share this page we would be super appreciative



Thank you for taking the time to read


Amy, Neil

Freddie & Bertie 

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