Gary Dunion

We’ve had the most amazing summer, spending precious time together in Devon and at CBeebies Land with the girls. No rehabilitation appointments, no hospital assessments—just quality family time and the opportunity to enjoy being together. And we have some huge news to share… Sienna has now had her G-tube removed from her tummy. She is officially no longer taking any medication and is eating and drinking completely by herself. These are milestones we once didn’t know would ever be possible. Next week, Sienna starts back at school—the same school we withdrew her from in December, when we had no idea whether she would ever be able to return. But somehow, she is. There will, of course, be support in place. There will be challenges and a new normal for both Sienna and our family, but she continues to amaze us by pushing forward. We’ve also had further optometrist appointments, which have identified some damage behind Sienna’s eyes caused by ANE. She is now wearing glasses and we’re trying patching to help strengthen her vision. She continues to experience difficulties with balance, processing speed, speech and fatigue, but her rehabilitation will resume next week as she begins this next chapter. We are also speaking with Sienna’s neurology team about her care plan as we approach flu season and what this means for Sienna and for us as a family. There is no denying that we are petrified to face this season again after everything that happened last year. But we cannot live our lives in fear. We have to keep moving forward, enjoying every precious moment and making the very most of the second chance we have been given. To every single person who has supported Sienna—and who continues to support her—you have been such an important part of her journey and recovery. We simply would not be where we are today without you. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. ❤️

Hello, we’re Gary and Angelina, and we have two beautiful daughters: Adriana, 7, and our youngest, Sienna, 4. On 19th November, Sienna suddenly became unresponsive and was rushed to Kettering A&E. After scans, she was placed into an induced coma and transferred to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, where she has remained in ICU ever since. Sienna has been diagnosed with an extremely rare and devastating brain condition called Acute Necrotising Encephalitis (ANE), caused by the flu. On top of this, she suffered serious complications in her tummy. She developed a leak in her intestine and had to undergo emergency surgery, where surgeons had to remove 60% of her intestines to save her life. She then required a second operation due to air collecting in her abdomen. The road ahead is incredibly challenging, and we may never get our old Sienna back. Due to the damage ANE has caused to her brain, when Sienna eventually wakes, she will be unable to walk, talk, or eat, and will require a huge level of neurological care. She will need intensive physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, feeding support, and specialist rehabilitation for many months — possibly years. We have been by her side every day while juggling home life and caring for her big sister, Adriana. Why We Are Fundraising The treatment and care Sienna will need over the coming months are extensive and come at a very high cost. This includes: Specialist neurological rehabilitation to help her regain movement, coordination, and basic functions. Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech & language therapy on an intensive basis. Feeding support and nutritional care, including special equipment and monitoring. Private rehabilitation options to supplement NHS care and give her the best possible chance of recovery. Travel and accommodation costs for our family to stay close to her while she receives ongoing treatment. Home adaptations and equipment she may require as her condition improves. We are determined to do everything possible to give Sienna the best chance at recovery, but the costs are beyond what we can manage on our own. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in helping Sienna get the care, therapy, and support she urgently needs. We now face the stark reality that we're going to be in hospital for months rather than weeks while Sienna recieves round the clock care. We will need to split our time between hospital and home, caring for her big sister Adriana while being by Sienna’s side as much as possible. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness, generosity, and support during this unimaginably difficult time. Your support will help give Sienna the best chance at recovery and hope for the future. Thank you! Gary, Angelina & Adriana x