Youngster’s Joy for Charity Funded Trike

Thanks to funding from the charity Caudwell Children a specialist trike has improved the quality of life for a five-year-old Worcestershire boy born prematurely.

Cooper Bower-Daglish was born at just 25 weeks’ gestation, weighing a tiny 860g. The youngster suffered bleeds on his brain and spent four and half months on a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

He now lives with cerebral palsy, visual impairment, global developmental delay, and is autistic.

“Cooper had such a tough start in life,” said mum Anna Bower.

“I had Group B Strep during pregnancy, which led to him contracting meningitis as a newborn. He was starved of oxygen for eight minutes at birth and needed an Ommaya reservoir fitted in his brain at three weeks old, to treat hydrocephalus.

“This came after an operation at just six days old, when he had a stoma to treat necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Then, at six months, he had further brain surgery to fit a shunt.”

But Cooper’s early setbacks and disabilities don’t hold him back. He attends Fort Royal Community Primary School in Worcester and uses a walking frame to help him get around.

Last year, a physiotherapist recommended that Cooper could benefit from a therapy trike, to help build his leg muscles. Anna, and Cooper’s dad Daniel Daglish, discovered that Caudwell Children could help fund the trike, following a simple and supportive application process.

Caudwell Children is a UK charity providing practical and emotional support for disabled and neurodivergent children and young people, and their families. Their services include autism assessments, specialist equipment and funding, family support sessions, and occupational therapy.

“We were thrilled to learn that there was help out there to part-fund the trike.” explained Anna.

“Cooper loves wheels, and since receiving his trike, he’s been able to join us on family trips to the park and around the estate where we live. We also love going to the forest together now.

“Being mobile on three wheels has enabled Cooper to build leg strength, which has helped him to become sturdier when using his walking frame. He’s more confident now too. It’s been truly game-changing and it’s so lovely to see him thrive.”

Founded in 2000 by entrepreneur, business leader and philanthropist John Caudwell, Caudwell Children has grown over the past 25 years into a leading UK charity dedicated to supporting disabled and neurodivergent children and their families.

To find out more visit https://www.caudwellchildren.com/