When Rio was just six months old, it became clear that he wasn’t meeting his early physical milestones. While other babies were rolling, sitting and beginning to explore the world around them, Rio was struggling due to a rare congenital condition called Tibial Aplasia - a one in a million diagnosis that none of us had anticipated.

We were told that for Rio to have the best chance of a mobile, independent life, he would need a through knee amputation of his right leg before his first birthday, but only if he could first learn to pull himself up to standing.

Everything felt overwhelming. I was watching other children race ahead while Rio was being left behind, and I felt frightened, isolated and completely out of my depth.

That’s when our health visitor recommended Playskill. Rio was just eight months old when we started, and from the very first session, our lives began to change.

Building foundations and confidence
Playskill gave Rio the opportunity to develop at his own pace, with love, expertise and encouragement wrapped around every step. Through weekly therapies, Rio began to flourish.

Within just five months, Andrea and the team helped him achieve the vital milestone of pulling up to standing, making his life changing surgery possible. Playskill not only prepared Rio physically for his operation, but supported us emotionally before and after - helping us to look forwards with hope rather than backwards with fear.

I will never forget watching Rio stand supported at Playskill in his first prosthetic leg, or the moment he took his first independent steps on the one year anniversary of his surgery. These were milestones we once feared might never come.

More than therapy
Playskill changed everything, not just for Rio, but for our whole family. It gave me a safe, supportive space to talk honestly with other parents who understood the challenges of raising a child with a visible disability. The sense of community, warmth and encouragement was unlike anything else.

Parents cheered for every child’s achievement, no matter how small. Targets were celebrated, perseverance was applauded, and no one ever felt alone. Playskill gave me the strength, confidence and knowledge to advocate for Rio, and to believe in his future.

Perhaps most importantly, it helped Rio feel that he wasn’t “different”. Being surrounded by other children with a range of disabilities grounded him and shaped the compassionate, empathetic young man he is today.

Life after Playskill
By the time Rio graduated from Playskill at the end of his first term in reception, he had caught up with his able bodied peers. The foundations laid in those early years changed the trajectory of his life.

Today, Rio is 17 and thriving. He plays amputee football at an elite level for Chelsea FC Amputees, has represented England at junior international level, and was part of the team that won the FA Disability Amputee Football Cup Final in 2025, broadcast live on national television. He is also completing a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Sport and has received conditional offers from university to study Sports Business and Broadcasting.

Rio is currently undertaking The 92 Challenge, aiming to become the first amputee to visit all 92 English Football League clubs, documenting his journey to inspire others and challenge perceptions of disability.

The lasting impact
The impact of Playskill on our lives cannot be overstated. It gave Rio his earliest vital skills, the confidence to believe in himself, and the understanding and empathy that still shape who he is today. It gave our family resilience, support and hope at a time when we desperately needed all three.

What does Playskill mean to us?
Playskill means everything. We will be forever grateful to Andrea and the entire Playskill team for enabling and empowering Rio to achieve his potential, not just in his early years, but for life.

Juliette – Rio’s mum