Martha In Hospital with Pneumonia

Martha had been suffering from a cold that turned into a chest infection. After several weeks of antibiotics Martha was rushed into hospital overnight on Wed 25^th Oct where she was eventually diagnosed with pneumonia. 

Martha in Frimley Park Hospital

Martha ended up staying in Frimley Park hospital for 5 days while they worked to bring the pneumonia under control. We are very thankful to all of the staff at the hospital for taking such good care of Martha. After a couple more weeks of convalescence Martha thankfully returned to full strength. 

Martha’s Grandad Pat Sadly Passes Away

We are very sad to report that Martha’s beloved grandad Pat passed away peacefully in his sleep on 2^nd Oct. Grandad Pat was Martha’s biggest supporter and did everything he could to help her. 

Martha with her Grandad Pat

While his passing was a big shock for the family it will be, in time, comforting to know that Grandad Pat led a full and happy life and he was still active and enjoying life until the end. Martha and her sister Orla will miss their grandad very much.

Martha’s Innowalk Arrives

We are very excited to say that the Innowalk from Vida Global finally arrived in mid-August. Martha

started to use this piece of specialist equipment, shipped from Norway, to start a daily exercise programme to strengthen her core muscles and stretch/stretch her arms and her legs. 

Martha Trialling the Innowalk

Martha uses the machine for 30-40 minutes at a time and not only is it great for exercising/toning muscles but it’s also amazing for cardiovascular exercise – something that Martha has had very little up to now. Martha loves being in the machine and we have high hopes that this will be another positive step in our aim to help Martha be as independently mobile as possible.

Martha Orders her Very Own Innowalk

In our quest for equipment to help with her on-going rehabilitation and daily physiotherapy, we were asked by Vida Global to trial a new piece of equipment called the Innowalk at a therapy conference in November. The device was designed in Norway and is commonly used by children there with disabilities as part of their daily physio routine. The Innowalk looks rather like a Cross Trainer but has a built in motor which provides assisted, guided and repetitive movement for the user in an upright, weight-bearing position. The movement of the legs in the Innowalk is similar to normal gait and it allows flexion and extension of the hip, knee and ankle joints. 

Martha walking in the Innowalk at the conference

Martha did incredibly well during the trial session and the physiotherapists at the conference were all blown away by how well she tolerated the movement. After just 12 minutes in the device, Martha’s usually tight ankle joints were flexible and the therapists all agreed that the equipment would be beneficial for Martha.

Together with our recent fundraising efforts, Martha's savings and very welcome donations by Ascot Round Table and Ascot Tangent, we were still only half way to our goal of raising £21,000 for the equipment by Easter. However, after a recent visit by the Sunninghill Trust we were absolutely delighted to hear that they had agreed to make up the funding difference by granting Martha £11,000. This is amazing news and we are so grateful to everyone who has helped us to reach our target even more quickly than we'd imagined.

The Innowalk is now on order and we hope to share more exciting news of it's arrival and Martha's progress in due course.  

Martha Goes on an Easter Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Martha was delighted to be chosen as one of the five "VIP" children to be taken by the Southampton based group 201 on the HCPT Easter pilgrimage to Lourdes in the South of France. Martha went with a fantastic group of people who support the group, along with a number of specially chosen young volunteers from local schools.

Martha wearing her Group 201 sweatshirt and hat at the airport

Martha went on Easter Saturday for a week of exciting activities as well as seeing the sights of Lourdes and attending church services and visiting the grotto.

Martha on the land train taking in the sights of Lourdes

The group also took a coach trip to Gavarnie in the Pyrenees.

Martha enjoying her trip to the mountains

We'd like to thank everyone involved in HCPT Group 201 for making Martha's first trip away from her parents such a fantastic adventure. We'd specially like to thank Carla, Cat, Molly and Roisin for taking such good care of Martha.

Martha First Footsteps Session of 2017

Martha attended her first Footsteps Centre sessions of 2017 in Oxford just before Easter. Martha successfully completed a programme of 2 hours of intensive physiotherapy each day for a three week period in the run up to Easter.

Martha's Certificate for Completing the Course

Martha found the sessions hard going as she still hasn't gained back all of her strength since her hip surgery in June 2016. Despite this Martha worked hard and we could see an improvement from the previous set in November 2016. The therapy, using the "Spider" equipment is very beneficial for Martha to promote the ability to weight bear and take steps. The costs of sending Martha to the Footsteps Centre is all funded privately as the NHS is unable to provide this type of intensive therapy for Martha and children like her.

Martha's Magic Quiz 2017

Martha's aunties, cousins and other family members again worked hard to put together a quiz night in March to raise money for Martha's on going needs.

2017 Quiz Night in Full Swing

The evening was a great success and approx 140 people had a super fun evening while supporting our beautiful girl.

We'd like to specially thank Kirsty, Gemma, Sharon and Trish for once again pulling out all the stops to support Martha, We really appreciate all your hard work and Martha benefits greatly from your efforts.