Run for Leo!

Hey All,

One of my best mates for the past 15 years Luke Napper (& Emma Napper) had a little boy 6 weeks premature. Leo Maximus Napper has recently been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. They are wonderful people, great friends and the most thoughtful family you could imagine.
I’ll be running the city to bay in September, half marathon in October and FULL Marathon next year and wanted to do something special for Leo, Luke & Emma
I’ve created a special fundraiser page which with all of your love and support any money which I raise goes directly to the Napper Family. As you could imagine they don’t ask for much in life however we all know they need as much love and support as we can give.
My aim is to raise as much money as I can so that Luke and Emma can buy Leo some much needed equipment to help with his development. Please click the link below to donate :)

Here is Leo's Story

Leo Maximus Napper:

Leo was born 6 weeks early via emergency c section and was in the neonatal unit at Flinders Medical Centre for the first 3 weeks of his life. He was sent home with a good bill of health but still using the gavage feeding tube due to the lack of strength.

He was diagnosed with severe bilateral hearing loss by 7 weeks of age and now has hearing aids which hopefully gives him enough hearing to recognise normal talking volumes and with intensive verbal therapy he will hopefully develop full speech.

Leo has suffered from severe silent reflux from birth which caused a feeding aversion which prevents Leo from breast or bottle feeding. Leo now feeds via the gavage tube using a syringe or pump.

Due to the hearing loss the doctor started testing to find the cause and with urine and blood tests the doctor discovered a CMV infection that was more than likely picked up during pregnancy.

Therapy was started via the Cora Barclay Centre immediately but as he developed we and the doctors noticed a delay, with further testing Leo has been given the likely diagnosis of cerebral palsy, at the age of 8 months. Leo still has limited head control and has his primitive reflexes that are usually gone by the age of 3 months.

Leo has now recently been diagnosed with short sightedness, so requires corrective glasses for a couple of years but if it does not self-correct he will require surgery.

Leo is going to need intensive therapy several times a week to help with his multiple disabilities, but with a lot of work and help from friends and family the Nappers are hopeful for the best outcome.