Independence for Indy
Published on: 10/02/23
After a difficult start in life, Indy is now living and loving every day.
When Indy was born she weighed less than a bag of sugar. She was put in an incubator and whisked away from her mum Sasha. When Sasha did see Indy she was amazed she was still alive. Sasha said: “Her forearm was the same circumference as one of my fingers. It was utterly devastating.”
After three weeks in a specialist unit, Indy was transferred to a hospital closer to home. But within 24 hours Indy got an infection and was diagnosed with a bowel disease that needed surgery. It went well, but just weeks later the family heard that Indy had sustained considerable brain trauma. “We were told that she had Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy and that it was likely to be of the most severe kind. I can honestly say I’ve never experienced pain like it,” said Sasha.
Challenging times
After nearly six months in hospital Indy was able to go home. She couldn’t sit up, walk or talk and it was then that reality hit. “I loved my little girl so much but caring for her 24/7 was life-changing. There wasn’t a moment for us as a family, and Indy’s sister Domini took a back seat,” said Sasha.
Like many parents caring for a profoundly disabled child, Sasha found it physically and emotionally exhausting. She told us: “I was on my knees. When we secured a place for Indy at The Children’s Trust School, it was a huge relief but also bittersweet.”
Indy has a residential placement, so she lives here in Chestnut House and attends our school. She now has around a dozen of our specialist staff supporting her 24/7. The team was specially trained to look after Indy’s needs – and so Sasha knows Indy is in the best place, but says home felt so empty without her.
Growing confidence
After three years at The Children’s Trust, Indy is much more confident around people and is a big personality in Chestnut House. She likes waking everyone up each morning, loves going to school, using the hydrotherapy pool and enjoys music and yoga.
“Indy is now 11 and her personality has matured. We visit Indy every weekend and she had terrible separation anxiety at first, screaming for me even if I just turned my back,” said Sasha, “but now she feels safe by herself.”
Recently Indy proved just how independent she’d become by driving herself to school in her wheelchair. Our specialist therapy and equipment means that Indy operates her wheelchair using a head-switch. The path from Chestnut House to school is fairly long and windy, so it is a huge achievement. Indy was met by claps and cheers from her teachers and classmates.
Specialist care
It was so hard for Sasha to be separated from Indy at birth but now, although they don’t live under the same roof, the whole family feels at home at The Children’s Trust. “It is so reassuring to know that we have The Children’s Trust family around us. It’s changed our lives as well as Indy’s,” said Sasha. “We know that Indy is getting the very best care. She can do things we’d never have imagined – moving around by herself, swimming, learning in class – thanks to specialist care and the incredible team here,” Sasha added.
Now our new Dojo app allows our team to share updates with parents like Sasha, so she’s even closer to Indy. “My phone pings, and I can see photos of Indy’s achievements in ‘real time’. It’s amazing!” said Sasha.
