Baby C is nearly 3 now and he is in the process of being adopted by a new mummy and daddy who happen to be my best friends. Baby C is the love of my life and every moment I spend with him is rewarding and precious. He is the most beautiful little boy.
Baby C suffered a NAI (non accidental injury) when he was only 5 months old. He was shaken so badly that he is now left profoundly disabled. He has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and is unable to move his legs and arms. He's almost completely blind and has raised blood pressure. He can't eat solid food very well at all and is fed extra fluids into a gastro tube directly into his stomach. He can't turn himself over in bed at nights so his new mum and dad do that for him so that he's always comfortable.
He is being lovingly cared for by his new foster family and I have the gift of getting to see him as much as I like. Baby C can't do much, but I have worked out how he communicates with the very few sounds that he can vocalise, and I know that he loves his cuddles and having his hands and feet stroked, and that he loves being in the centre of a happy family especially during lively dinner times and when his bigger foster brothers and sister play with him.
Through the care and love of his foster family, Baby C is becoming more responsive than ever was thought possible.
Baby C doesn't have a voice, but he is now surrounded with love and 24 hour care. The abuse he suffered as a little baby had such an impact on me that I wanted to do something, however small, to help children so that there is always a grown-up who is able to listen and to help. The NSPCC are currently raising funds for their Child's Voice Appeal through which they aim to get to the point where they can answer the phone call, text and email of every child who has the need to contact them through their ChildLine service.
Baby C will never be able be speak due to the nature of his injuries, but for those children that are able, the NSPCC's Childline service is a safe place for them to come to receive the help and support they need. Please support this project and the NSPCC, it would make such a difference to the lives of children and young people that the NSPCC seeks to help on a daily basis.
