providing free complementary healthcare to the community

We asked Coleen, Malachi’s mother, to let us know how she heard about Complementary Therapy and the benefits it has had for her son’s Cerebral Palsy

‘I had never heard about Complementary Therapy before, but once when I was out shopping with Malachi a fundraiser who was collecting money in Croydon approached us and gave us some information, encouraging us to call TransmissionUK to see if they could help. I eventually got round to calling and booked Malachi in. He was immediately quite excited and from that day he has continued to look forward to each and every session.

Malachi has not been on any medication since he was born. Instead, his physical condition is being helped by continuous hippo-therapy, which is therapy on horseback, along with Conductive Education, which is like physiotherapy but teaching life skills like being able to dress and undress themselves.

Malachi had an operation at the end of March this year to release his tight hamstrings, lengthen one calf muscle and release his achilles tendons, as he has spasticity which mean his muscles are contracted really tight. The massage therapy he receives through TransmissionUK help to keep his legs supple and stretched whilst he grows, which has extended the benefits of having this operation and are extremely important in enabling him to maintain his mobility. As parents we are so pleased to have found another therapy to help with his future, to give him the best possible outcome. If this therapy was not offered for free there would be no other way which we could afford it as I am a full time carer and Malachi’s dad works full time with every hour of overtime he can get, to support Malachi and our two other children aged 17 yrs and 13 yrs.

Malachi’s cerebral palsy has had a massive effect on our family life and there are many times when he would love to be more independent. My older children are fantastic and always willing to lend a hand.  We are just grateful for what we have as there are many other parents struggling even more than us.

Malachi has quite a busy social life as he plays Boccia on a Monday after school with some of his friends who are also in wheelchairs, Tuesday is Horeseriding, Thursday Conductive Education at Billingshurst and then Saturdays are when he has his massage with Devon. He absolutely loves every second of his massage and gets upset if we have to cancel one. He says his legs and the rest of his feel really relaxed.  We love the fact that he is benefiting from therapy whilst not having to be told do this or that, which is how it is in physiotherapy. He says that he can relax much better without anyone moaning at him, telling him to stand up straight , use both hands etc.!

Prior to contacting TransmissionUK, we were unaware of any therapies that could be available for children like Malachi, or in fact for any physical and mental disabilities. There should definitely be more information widely available on the different complementary therapies and the many benefits they can have. We have certainly been spreading the word and will continue to do so. Thanks once again for this fantastic opportunity, we will be happy to receive the treatments until Malachi says “I don’t want to go anymore.”‘