Our little bruiser following a fall last week, still happy and smiling even with his Racoon Eyes!! ❤️
Alfie testing out the Trike during his Physiotherapy session last week! ❤️
Alfie's Therapy Fund! ✨️
Background:
In March 2023, our then 20 month old son Alfie had a unexplained prolonged seizure at home which sadly caused extensive damage to the left side of his Brain - the cause we later discovered was due to a gene disorder he was born with; CACNA1A. Due to his acquired brain injury, Alfie now has right sided Hemiplegia and Hypertonia, meaning his right limbs, body trunk, postural muscles and face are all affected, along with right peripheral vision loss to both eyes.
Rehabilitation:
Alfie spent 9 weeks in Birmingham Childrens Hospital and with the right medication and therapy support he regained full neck control, sitting balance and weaned back onto a normal diet. Alfie was then was fortunate enough to get a 12 week placement at the Children’s Trust in Tadworth, a Rehabilitation Centre for children with brain injuries. With the intense sessions and incredible support received during his stay, Alfie learnt how to crawl again, regain some movement in his right hand/arm, progressed with his speech and even learnt some words in Makaton signing.
Community:
Since leaving The Childrens Trust and returning home, Alfie has been receiving input from NHS therapists (Physio, OT and SALT). He wears splints on his right arm during the day and night to support with his Dystonia and an orthotic on his right leg to gain more strength and stability to which he is now able to walk handheld - Alfie is so motivated to get up and move which is such a huge positive for the future as he is getting so much stronger on his feet and we hope that one day he will walk independently.
Seizures:
As a result of Alfies brain injury and/or gene disorder, he now suffers with daily seizures which are sudden, untriggered and cause him frequent harm. He wears a helmet to protect his head when he is out and about but sometimes this doesn't always protect his face. At bedtime we are unable to leave Alfie unattended wearing the helmet due to its risks of choking and suffocation. Therefore, there has been occasions during the night where he has had a seizure in his cot and its resulted in bumps, cuts and bruises which warrant hospital admissions. It's a constant worry for us and although we use a baby monitor and sleep alarms, his seizures are quick and come without any warning so he often gets hurt. We have been researching specialist Safe Beds that are padded and used for those with additional needs and feel that Alfie would benefit hugely if he were to have one.
Rifton TRICYCLE:
"The Rifton Tricycle is an adaptive bike made to help non ambulatory children experience the joy and freedom of independent movement, improve leg strength, posture, balance and range of motion." Alfie was visited during his Physio session last week by one of the reps from Rifton who brought along a Trike model. Alfie absolutely loved it and was able to control it himself which gave him alot of enjoyment. His Physio has strongly recommended that we try our best to get him one as it will build up more strength in his right leg and improve his posture and balance which will hopefully encourage him to become more mobile in time! The Trike also has hand anchors which provide a soft and comfortable support for users who have difficulty keeping their hands on the bar, for Alfie this will be beneficial as his Dystonia causes his right hand to be fully clenched the majority of the time.
Funding:
This specialist adaptive equipment is unfortunately not funded through the NHS and is very costly. Although, there are charities out there that are willing to help towards the overall costs, the waiting times to get an initial response is on average 18 months at present. The Trike itself is £4000 and the Safe bed has been estimated at £2000 approximately for Alfie's specific needs. We were advised by Alfie's MDT to get alternative funding and set up a Go Fund Me page to help get him a Trike and Safe bed.
We appreciate that times are extremely hard for everyone right now and would be so grateful for any support you are able to give. If you're not able to donate financially we would be very appreciative if you could please share this page for us !!!
Thankyou to those who have followed Alfie's story so far and have always believed in him as much as we do - We have one very loved little boy! He's our little hero and deserves the world!!!
Thankyou,
Alfie and his parents
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Why GoFundMe Articles and URLs Appear on Our Website?
Why GoFundMe Articles and URLs Appear on Our Website and How We Support Other GoFundMe Campaigns
At LFEBridge Foundation, we are dedicated to creating a platform where individuals and organizations can maximize their fundraising efforts. As part of our commitment to supporting a wide range of causes, we incorporate articles and URLs from GoFundMe into our website. Here’s why you might see GoFundMe content on our site, how it benefits the fundraising community, and our relationship with GoFundMe:
1. Amplifying Reach for Fundraising Campaigns
Increased Visibility: By featuring GoFundMe articles and URLs on our platform, we help increase the visibility of various fundraising campaigns. This additional exposure can attract more donors and supporters, helping campaigns achieve their goals more quickly.
Cross-Promotional Opportunities: Highlighting campaigns from GoFundMe allows us to support a broader spectrum of causes and connect with a wider audience. This cross-promotion benefits both the campaign organizers and potential donors looking for causes to support.
2. Supporting Campaign Growth
Advertising and Promotion: We understand the importance of visibility in successful fundraising. By showcasing GoFundMe campaigns, we provide an advertising platform that helps these campaigns reach potential donors who might not have discovered them otherwise.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with GoFundMe and featuring their campaigns on our site strengthens the fundraising ecosystem, ensuring that worthwhile causes receive the attention and support they deserve.
3. Expanding Donor Networks
Broader Donor Base: Featuring a variety of campaigns from different platforms helps diversify and expand the donor base. This means more people can learn about and contribute to a variety of causes, ultimately driving higher engagement and donations.
Enhanced Outreach: By integrating GoFundMe content, we help campaigns tap into new networks and communities, broadening their reach and potential impact.
How We Help Other GoFundMe Campaigns Grow
1. Featured Campaigns Section
Highlighting Noteworthy Campaigns: We have a dedicated section on our website where we feature noteworthy GoFundMe campaigns. This not only gives these campaigns a spotlight but also encourages visitors to explore and contribute to them.
Rotating Features: To ensure a diverse range of campaigns get visibility, we regularly rotate the featured campaigns. This continuous update keeps the content fresh and engaging for our audience.
2. Social Media Promotion
Sharing Across Platforms: We share selected GoFundMe campaigns on our social media channels to reach a broader audience. Our followers, in turn, can share these posts, amplifying the reach even further.
Engagement Strategies: Utilizing effective engagement strategies, such as storytelling and compelling visuals, we enhance the appeal of these campaigns, driving more traffic and donations.
3. Email Newsletters
Campaign Highlights: Our email newsletters often include highlights of impactful GoFundMe campaigns. By doing so, we bring these causes directly to the inboxes of our subscribers, encouraging more people to get involved and donate.
Donor Updates: We keep our donors informed about the progress and success of the campaigns they have supported, fostering a sense of community and continued engagement.
LFEBridge Foundation's Independence
It’s important to clarify that LFEBridge Foundation is an independent entity and is not part of or affiliated with GoFundMe. While we feature and support GoFundMe campaigns on our site, we operate as a separate foundation dedicated to collecting donations for various causes, similar to GoFundMe. Many of these causes are displayed on our website to provide donors with a wide range of options to support.
Conclusion
By featuring GoFundMe articles and URLs on our website, LFEBridge Foundation supports a wide array of fundraising campaigns, helping them gain the visibility and donations they need to succeed. Through our promotional efforts and strategic partnerships, we aim to create a robust and supportive environment for all fundraising initiatives.
For more information on how we support fundraising campaigns or to explore featured campaigns, visit https://LFEBridge.com or contact us at support@lfebridge.com.
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