Early Struggles
Teddy is almost three years old and has been attending Playskill for nearly a year.
When he was just eight weeks old, Teddy began losing weight rapidly. He couldn’t keep milk down and, despite trying everything the health professionals advised, we watched our tiny baby fade before our eyes for four long weeks. At 12 weeks old, our health visitor finally sent us to A&E. Teddy was admitted immediately, and we spent the next ten weeks in hospital.

There were moments when I genuinely wondered if I would ever bring my baby home.

During that time he had a feeding tube, endless tests, and still no answers. He continued to deteriorate. Eventually a change of feeding tube gave him just enough nutrition to gain a little weight, and we were discharged - with referrals to a neurologist, paediatrician, physiotherapist and dietician, but still no diagnosis. By then, Teddy had lost all his developmental milestones. He had regressed to a newborn level and no longer had even the most basic skills.

Ongoing Health Challenges
By age two, he finally had his feeding tube removed, but reintroducing food and medicine orally was incredibly difficult. Now, as he approaches three, Teddy is still underweight, with very limited nutrition. He picks up every bug and infection, which affects his breathing and often leads back to hospital stays. Doctors think he may need a feeding tube again because he simply isn’t eating enough.

As he grew, Teddy continued to miss milestones and developed issues with his left side. Walking is difficult, but we still don’t know why. Although we are under the care of several medical professionals, appointments are inconsistent, waiting lists are long, and we still have no answers. We don’t know what the future holds for Teddy.

Finding Playskill
We heard about Playskill while attending a playgroup in the same building. The staff knew Teddy had additional needs and told us about the charity. Very quickly we were assessed and accepted into a Playskill group.

For the first time, Teddy had regular access to the physical therapies he desperately needed, all in one place, working together, consistently, and with practitioners who could build a relationship with him. They also work alongside our NHS therapists (who we only see once a month, if we’re lucky) so that the therapies can complement each other.

More Than Therapy: A Community That Understands
But Playskill has given us far more than therapy. The community of families is invaluable. Having a child with additional needs can be incredibly isolating. You can’t go to a regular toddler group. People stare, or avoid talking to you, because your child is different. Even time with friends who have children the same age can be difficult - they talk about milestones that my child isn’t reaching, and I don’t always know why. It’s hard for others to understand.

At Playskill, everyone understands. They get it when you say you’re having a rubbish day. They celebrate the tiny milestones that most people wouldn’t even notice - holding a bottle, grasping a fork, sitting, standing, or even moving their eyes to communicate. We share the strain, celebrate the wins, and support each other through the tough moments.

Support for the Whole Family
The charity supports our whole family. I also have a ten year old who misses out on things because so much of our lives revolve around hospitals, appointments and Teddy’s health issues. Very few places cater for the whole family, and we are incredibly lucky that Playskill includes the whole family through their events. He gets to meet other children in the same position, and we can do activities together that we wouldn’t have access to otherwise. Having a break, feeling normal, being accepted - those things mean the world. The training sessions I’ve attended which give practical support and advice have been invaluable too.

What Playskill Means to Me
I’m so grateful we found Playskill. They listen, they guide, and they support us in ways I didn’t know we needed. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them. Every family in our position deserves a Playskill.

What does Playskill mean to me? A light at the end of the tunnel. Happiness. Fun. A breath of fresh air.