Renley's story

Renley’s birth was a very dramatic and difficult experience. Following a complicated pregnancy, I was rushed to the hospital where it was confirmed that I was 4cm dilated and had developed an infection called chorioamnionitis. Because of my own medical history, the hospital had to hold a large team meeting with other specialists to ensure we were both safe and it was confirmed that I needed an emergency C-section under general anaesthetic.

Getting wheeled down to the main theatre was the most nerve-wracking moment of my life. I genuinely didn't know what the outcome would be, and I made sure to phone my three children before going in. My partner, Curtis, was only able to come into theatre for a few minutes to say his goodbyes. An hour after Renley was born, I woke up in the Morriston ICU; it was an awful feeling being surrounded by hospital staff and not knowing if my baby was even alive.

After spending two days in ICU, I was transferred back to Singleton to meet my beautiful baby boy. But before I could see him, I had to meet with Renley’s medical team. They explained that he had experienced damage to his brain, and I was completely in shock. When I finally went to visit Renley for the first time, as soon as I stepped foot into the NICU, I froze. I didn't know what to expect and as soon as I saw him, I burst into tears. Learning that Renley’s brain damage could possibly lead to a condition called cerebral palsy left us both in the unknown; we had only ever heard the name, but neither of us knew what it really meant for his future.

We first heard about Cerebral Palsy Cymru from Renley's physio. When he was about 6 months old (3 months corrected), we had our first session with Gosia. We were quite apprehensive as it was our first time, but we really enjoyed the session and recognised that the specialist support here was going to be really helpful. The first session was very relaxed, focusing on us all getting to know each other and understanding Renley’s background and birth.

Renley is currently accessing Cerebral Palsy Cymru’s Early Intervention Service, ‘Better Start, Better Future’ programme. The service itself is incredible and we were lucky enough to take part in the EI SMART baby course for three days in February too. The two therapists who led the course were just amazing.

We have learnt so much and have gained a lot of hands-on experience, learning the best ways to support Renley with his positioning, sitting, and standing.

It is crazy to think that Cerebral Palsy Cymru is a charity-run centre, yet it is filled with such incredible people who not only support Renley’s physical development, but also offer emotional support for myself and my partner Curtis too.

As a family, we have found Cerebral Palsy Cymru so helpful. The sessions have been very educational, and the emotional support we have received has also been truly amazing. Being able to meet other families in a similar situation has helped us feel like we are not alone. As a thank you to Cerebral Palsy Cymru for everything they have done for us, we are taking part in the Cardiff Half Marathon 2026.