Born at 23 weeks and 5 days, Elsie was born with chronic lung disease and adrenal gland insufficiency. Due to her incredibly premature birth her development has been considerably delayed with her parents worried that she was not reaching her milestones.
With so many unknowns, Elsie’s parents weren’t certain what her future and day-to-day life would look like, until they came to Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity.
When Elsie was four months corrected (eight months actual) a friend who was also accessing the charity’s services recommended Elsie’s parents see what help the charity could give her. When she arrived, she couldn’t sit up or even roll over. Now, Elsie is thriving and has started nursery – something her parents had thought was once out of reach.
Elsie enjoys music therapy, conductive education and home-play sessions. She can now sit unaided and is able to walk on her feet but is still very wobbly. From being a child that was hugely distressed by sensory overload like loud noises, she is now able to communicate a few words with her parents and loves playing with musical instruments such as the drum or the xylophone.
Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity gives Elsie more than just traditional therapies, it’s also a place for her to make friends and interact with other children her age. Elsie now gets to enjoy socialising with other children of her age, learning new skills like sharing and waiting for her turn.
“I don’t think she’d be anywhere near where she is physically, or intellectually, without the charity. It’s so nice to have something we can do that we know is helping her.”– Elsie’s mum, Debi
