We (Charity and Lewis - Rome’s parents) and 21 of our amazing family and friends are challenging ourselves to complete the Tough Mudder on May 11th 2025 at Henley-on-Thames.

This is a serious challenge: mud, ice, electric shocks, and obstacle after obstacle designed to push you to your limits. We’re doing it as a team - with Rome in mind every step of the way.

Rome is facing challenges of his own every single day. With our wonderful team we’re hoping to raise funds to help cover the cost of the therapy he needs to keep making progress. It’s not easy, but neither is Tough Mudder - and that’s exactly why we’re doing it.

OUR STORY

On May 8th, 2024, our beautiful boy Rome was born. After a healthy, wonderful pregnancy, we were beyond excited to finally meet him. But our world was turned upside down in an instant.

Rome was born not breathing, with no heartbeat. He needed extensive resuscitation. It took several minutes to get his heart beating and it took 22 minutes for Rome to take his first breath - the longest, most excruciating moments of our lives.

After 45 minutes of intensive efforts, doctors finally stabilised him enough to be transferred to the NICU. Rome was critically ill, battling sepsis, and yet, by some miracle, he extubated himself upon arrival and began breathing room air on his own. Soon after being admitted to the NICU, he was also diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis, requiring urgent and aggressive antibiotic treatment. The following two weeks were the hardest we've ever endured.

At 5 days old, Rome had an MRI. This revealed moderate brain damage affecting several areas responsible mostly for motor control. We were told Rome would likely develop cerebral palsy. The doctors prepared us for the possibility that he might never smile, laugh, crawl, talk, walk, or eat on his own. He suffered seizures and was placed on strong anti-seizure medication. We were shattered. Our world had changed in an instant, and we didn't know what the future would hold.

After 15 days in the NICU, on May 22nd, we took our beautiful, strong and brave boy home. Despite everything, he had made incredible progress - he was breastfeeding well, slowly weaned off the strongest seizure medications, and showing signs of resilience that amazed even his doctors.

Since then, the journey has been so incredibly tough, but Rome has continued to defy expectations. As of April 2025, at 11 months old, he is off all seizure medications. He is delayed in some areas, but he is exceeding expectations in so many ways - he smiles, laughs, rolls, sits assisted, eats lots of food (and loves it) and even claps! He is such a character, full of joy and determination.

While we receive NHS support, therapy sessions are limited, and it's simply not enough to give Rome the best chance at reaching his full potential. The first few years of life are the most crucial for brain development due to neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to form new connections and adapt. Early intervention is vital in helping Rome maximise his potential, as this window of rapid growth and change will not last forever. The more access he has to high-quality therapy now, the greater his chances of developing important motor skills and independence in the future. This is why we've sought private therapy, and the improvements we've seen have been nothing short of incredible.

Rome attends:

- Craniosacral Therapy (every two weeks at a cost of £30 per session)

- Chiropractic and MNRI reflex integration therapy (weekly at a cost of £50 per session)

- ABM intensive therapy in London (2-4 days per month at a cost of £280 per day)

- Swimming lessons in a hydrotherapy pool (weekly at a cost of £20 per session)

- Private Physiotherapy (once a month at a cost of £125 per session)

These therapies cost over £1600 per month, not including travel, parking, and other expenses.

Every session helps Rome grow stronger and we can see this remarkable change, but we need help to continue providing him with the care he deserves.

We are asking for your support to ensure Rome gets the best possible start in life. With your help, we can continue and increase these vital therapies and give him the best chance at reaching his full potential.

Thank you for reading, for your kindness, and for being part of Rome's journey. Every donation, big or small, means the world to us.

Please feel free to follow Rome's journey on Instagram stronglikerome or Facebook -

'Strong Like Rome '

With love,

Charity, Lewis & Rome xxx

THE TEAM

Charity

Lewis

Amelie

Scarlett

Simon

Jamie

Amy

Steve

Beth

Dan H

Jack L

Ad

Aaron

Alice

Brendon

Seb

Dan M

Louis

Hannah

Danni

Jack L

Lucy

Rebecca