Cleveleys childminder fundraising for 'life-changing' treatment for baby with neurological conditions

Lynn Taylor, 45, a childminder of 22 years from Cleveleys, looks after nine nursery-aged children, two of whom are Scarlett Steeden-Smith and her twin sister Beatrix.

Scarlett and Beatrix, both 12 months old (10 months corrected), were born prematurely at 31 weeks after suffering from twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, where the placenta is shared unequally.

Before her birth, Scarlett suffered extensive damage to her kidneys, bowel and brain as a result of oxygen depletion, and her parents Amy, 34 and Paul, 38, were told by medics it was unlikely she would survive after delivery.

Miraculously, both Scarlett and Beatrix proved medics wrong and were born safely at Royal Preston Hospital last year, but since her birth Scarlett developed the neurological conditions Porencephaly and Periventricular Leukomalacia.

Scarlett also has problems with her muscles, struggling to move her stomach off the floor to move into a crawl or sitting position, and requires a chair to sit up unaided.

She has restricted movement in her right limbs, and developmental delays which saw her only recently learning to roll over.

But after visiting a special clinic in New Brighton, Liverpool, mum Amy discovered that sessions on a Galileo vibration plate helped to improve Scarlett's muscle tone so significantly that "she was like a different child."

Now, Lynn wants to help the family by taking the children she looks after to Stanley Park on a sponsored toddle, to enable Amy and Paul to buy a Galileo plate for their home.

Lynn, a childminder of 22 years, said: "Scarlett is just gorgeous, she really is such a lovely little girl, she makes you laugh and I want her to have every opportunity to fulfil her full potential.

"This equipment would be completely life-changing for her, and Amy has to go all the way to Liverpool for access to it.

"It will help her to sit, and eventually learn to crawl and walk. We all take these things for granted so I really hope we can raise enough to buy it.

"We're gobsmacked by the amount raised already, and we're so grateful to everyone who has donated, especially during the pandemic."

The twins' mum Amy, a health visitor at South Shore Primary Care Centre, explained how travelling to Liverpool for the Galileo therapy was difficult, and the pandemic had forced Scarlett to forgo some of the sessions she was having previously.

She said: "Scarlett had physiotherapy sessions and hydrotherapy sessions which helped her, but then pools closed and her physio sessions turned to phone calls instead.

"Before we went to Liverpool for the Galileo sessions she was never able to touch her toes, but now with the therapy she can.

"She had bowel surgery in Alder Hey after she was born, and when she came home she had very little movement in her right side, so we have had to work to get her to recognise how to move those limbs."

The Galileo machines are produced in Germany and are only available in a limited number of clinics in the UK, but the producers of it say it should be used daily to get the full benefit from it.

They cost £4799, and so far the fundraiser has raised over £2,000 towards the final total.

Amy continued: "When she's using the Galileo equipment, I feel like she's free. She can finally move around with less discomfort and we can't believe how far she's come.

"I do an hour of physio a day with her, but the Galileo makes it more compact, she will only need around 30 minutes a day. I also have to find childcare for Beatrix while we take her to Liverpool, and it does get really hard.

"She's a different child when she's been on the equipment, and as a mother you do anything you can for your children.

"It's been amazing to see how much the community have come together to help my little girl. Everyone's generosity and all the lovely comments have blown me away."

Eleanor Cox, Scarlett's therapist at Unique Body Solutions in New Brighton where she has her Galileo therapy, added that she had full confidence the vibration plate would accelerate Scarlett's rehabilitation goals.

She said: "Evidence from multiple studies have shown that Galileo training helps improve muscle function and mobility, which is something Scarlett needs help with,

and after just one session we were able to see immediate results.

"Scarlett was much more mobile and flexible, completing stretches and movements she hadn’t been able to do previously. There are a number of different aspects of Scarlett’s condition that can be worked on using the Galileo, with multiple exercises I have recommended.

"A Galileo is a lifelong investment with so many different ways in which it can be used to achieve a whole range of goals. This will help to speed up Scarlett’s recovery in the best way possible. In my opinion she is a perfect candidate for Galileo therapy."

To show your support and donate, you can visit Lynn's Just Giving page here.