THE DEDICATED efforts of the Hope House Children’s Hospice staff have turned a mother's dream into a reality as she saw her two-year-old son swim for the first time.

Laura Williams, 26, from Wrexham, always dreamed her little boy Theo would be able to one day go swimming, something which has seemed out of reach since he was born. 

She asked the physio team at Hope House to investigate how Theo could get to swim and after lots of research, working with Theo’s consultant at Alder Hey and purchasing a specialist swimming suit, Theo was able to get in hospice’s hydrotherapy pool with his mum and sister Esmae, 5. 

Laura said: “It was like I was still living in that dream.”

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“Theo really enjoyed it, he was just smiling away and giggling.

“I was just so happy to be able to have that moment and memory with my children.

“This would not have happened without Hope House.” 

Theo was born with a kidney disease, renal failure and had a bleed on the brain.

He spent a lot of his early life confined to hospital with Laura during the pandemic.  

“I was introduced to the staff at Hope House who were incredible for us,” said Laura. “Whether it was helping care for Theo, being there for me to talk or helping with practical things like doing washing, they were there for us.” 

Border Counties Advertizer: Laura with Theo at Hope House Children's Hospice.Laura with Theo at Hope House Children's Hospice. (Image: Hope House)Theo needs a dialysis catheter for his kidneys, meaning in normal circumstances he would not be able to go swimming due to the risk of infection.

Hope House staff were able to buy a Hammond swimming suit for Theo which is sealed against the skin at the neck, elbows and above the knees to keep his medical lines dry. 

Other children like Theo will also be able to use the suit in the future if they need it.  

The mum-of-two added: “I couldn’t believe it when they called me to say they’d been able to get a suit that would allow us to get in the pool with Theo.

“I take each day as it comes with Theo and everything we do is a memory.

Border Counties Advertizer: Laura with Theo and Esmae at Hope House Children's Hospice.Laura with Theo and Esmae at Hope House Children's Hospice. (Image: Hope House)

“We don’t know what the future holds, but this was a moment I could cherish, being in the pool with my children.” 

Emma Wyatt, Clinical Therapies Lead at the hospices said: “Hydrotherapy can be hugely beneficial to children like Theo, and that is why we worked hard to get him this suit.

“It was a combined effort between our therapy professionals here at Hope House and community nursing staff.

“We did lots of research on the benefits and safety aspects so that Theo’s consultant would approve us using the suit.”