Case Studies

Annie Barnett
Little Missenden, Buckhinghamshire. 6 years old

Annie Barnett was born 11 days late and after a long and traumatic labour. Doctors noticed her ears were a funny shape and she had mottled skin, which tests later showed was a result of a re-ordered Chromosome 10. At 19 weeks she suffered a stroke which caused her brain damage, leaving the movement in her left side impaired. Two weeks later Annie contracted pneumococcal meningitis and was rushed into hospital where doctors released fluid from her brain, however her blood pressure dropped dramatically and doctors told parents, Debbi and Steve, that she would die. Incredibly after two days Annie's condition stabilised and she was taken to Great Ormond Street Hospital for renal care to monitor her blood pressure.

Whilst at Great Ormond Street, Annie developed Bronchiolitis and didn't move for a week and lost the ability to use her hands. Annie made an incredible recovery and just before her Annie's third birthday, her parents took her to the Footsteps Centre, where she began intensive physiotherapy to try and maximise her physical abilities. Before starting at Footsteps, Annie could not walk, could not sit up and was very stiff from not using her muscles. Now Annie can sit on a bench, can weight bear and even take steps with someone supporting her.

Olivia Treadwell
Westbury, Wiltshire. 10 years old

Lesley Treadwell has identical ten year old twin daughters with Cerebral Palsy. Elizabeth has hemiplegia and can walk independently, whilst Olivia has diplegia and until recently was unable to walk or stand without support. Specialists and therapists had repeatedly told Olivia’s parents that she would never walk and in 2003 her physical condition worsened dramatically. Olivia started at Footsteps three years ago in the hope that the deterioration could at least be halted because the NHS physiotherapy and home exercising they were doing were adequate for maintenance but not for improvement.

Olivia’s mother Lesley Treadwell describes the discovery of Footsteps as one of the most significant and valuable differences that they have made to all of their lives. Soon after starting at Footsteps, Olivia’s decline was halted and greater independent mobility began to take place.

“The therapists worked tirelessly and with complete dedication to improve Olivia’s condition physically, which in turn had amazing effects psychologically and emotionally. Olivia and the therapists have achieved the previously unthinkable. She is stronger, walks freely and confidently, and is a happy and determined girl. After so many years spent with very little hope, I have to pinch myself to believe this is really happening.”

Giacomo Morris
Newport, 9 years old

Giacomo Morris has cerebral palsy, is quadriplegic and has been receiving therapy at Footsteps for over three years. His mother, Antonella, firmly believed that he needed an intensive programme which couldn’t be provided by the NHS and so searched and paid for private therapy for her son. Her belief that this was vital was so strong that she took her son to Poland twice, but was delighted when two of the therapists she had met there agreed to set up Footsteps in the UK.

This type of intensive therapy saw Giacomo go from a child who couldn’t roll, sit unaided, reach for things, lean over and put weight on arms to crawling within 28 days of therapy. Not only was he physically more able, but he astounded his parents by progressing mentally at the same time including in speech and language as well as cognitively.

The family stay at the available cottage accommodation near to the Footsteps gym. Antonella says:

“My husband comes to stay on the weekends during our three week programmes and every time he comes, he sees a different child in Giacomo. Each time we attend a Footsteps programme there is a transformation in our son and we take home a different child. We cannot believe how much our son achieves during each programme. To say this therapy has transformed his life would be a severe understatement.”

Lauren Mill
Oxford, 9 years old

Lauren was born at 24 weeks and weighed in at just 775 grams. She suffered oxygen starvation when she was three weeks old which caused her condition of cerebral palsy. Refusing to accept cerebral palsy was going to ruin her daughter’s life, her mother Helen Stocks tried all sorts of private therapies, some with greater success than others. When she moved to Oxford they discovered Footsteps.

Since starting at Footsteps, Lauren’s sitting balance has improved immensely as have her hand functions. Her stepping action has improved, so much so that Footsteps gave her the courage and confidence to enter the 100m sprint on sports day at her school without a wheelchair!

Lauren has been to Footsteps ten times in over two years and not only has the therapy helped her physically, but she has broken through the mental barrier and she now believes that she can do as others do. She is a far more independent person who wishes to walk, not be carried or pushed, even if only to walk in the playground at lunchtime at school. Helen explains:

“NHS therapy has badly let down Lauren. In contrast Footsteps is the best thing we have ever done for Lauren, by providing expertise, continuity and variation, and the therapists are so enthusiastic! It has made Lauren confident in what she does and she thoroughly enjoys going. Footsteps has also had a huge effect on her speech – we can’t shut her up!”