Zoes wish to Chew & Chat

We are fundraising for our little girl, Zoe who is now 7 years old.

Zoe was born extremely premature at 24 weeks, known as a micro-preemie. Weighing only 540grams when born. Zoe spent 272 days in hospital before she could get home to us from The Coombe/Our Ladys Crumlin. Since Zoes birth in 2014, it has been a rollercoaster for her & us. Through it all she has been the most determined , strong and loving little girl. Zoe has a diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy, Cp presents differently with each person. For Zoe , it has affected her legs, feet, core and her oral functions. Zoe uses her wheelchair full time and walks short distances with the aid of her k-walker. Unfortunately over the past 18months Zoes feet have deteriorated and she requires intensive Physio and specific Braces to help her feet and legs, which she can't access here in Ireland.

Until last June , Zoe was 100% peg fed. We have worked extremely hard to support Zoe swallowing pureed food and now she only requires her peg for water and meds. This change only happened with the help of a Centre in Boston , NAPA , where we attend in 2019. Their therapists worked with Zoe for 3 weeks on her swallowing through a device called Vital stimularion. This had life changing benefits for Zoe.

So why set up a GoFundme?? Zoe still requires intensive specialised therapy In order to chew foods and swallow in safe way, (this is a separate skill to swallowing which zoes muscles and pathways to the brain need to learn) also we hope with intensive therapy her speech will become clearer and allow her to communicate with her friends and family fully .

This type of service isn't available to Zoe here in Ireland hence we need to travel back to Napa to give Zoe every opportunity possible.

While there she will also do a Physio intensive, meet with a Orthotist who can design braces to suit Zoes needs and have another therapy called ESTIM .

It's a huge opportunity for Zoe but unfortunately comes at a cost which without fundraising , we just can't do on our own.

Any donation at all would be beyond appreciated and help get Zoe on her way to Chewing and Chatting