Can you give families like Christopher's an unforgettable summer?

Despite defying doctors’ expectations, Christopher’s complex needs mean that the summer holidays can be a challenging time for him and his family.

Christopher’s mum, Erin, kindly shares their story and describes the lifeline that Chestnut Tree House provides them at this time of year.

Summer holidays are always full-on in my house.

I love spending extra time with my little ones, but juggling endless household chores and taking care of everyone can be really difficult. Especially as a mum of three, one of whom has complex needs.

It was at my 20-week scan that we were told my son, Christopher, had an underdeveloped cerebellum. This meant that the part of his brain that was meant to help him learn how to coordinate and move wasn’t growing as it should have been.

We were told to never expect him to walk, or even roll over, but he’s now almost seven years old and defying all the odds.

Christopher in a dinosaur costume next to a dinosaur made from balloons

In fact, in many ways he’s a typical boy: cheeky, a huge fan of dinosaurs, and if he’s not getting mucky in the garden, he’s teasing his older sisters!

But his complex needs mean he must be fed through a tube, and he uses a wheelchair regularly as his legs aren’t strong enough to hold him up. And despite proving to us every day that he can do more than he was ever meant to, Christopher’s condition has left him cut off from most of the activities other children his age enjoy every summer.

It’s only at Chestnut Tree House that Christopher, and our whole family, can have the best summer holidays.

Can you help more families like mine get vital support during the often stressful summer months?

Since our very first visit, Chestnut Tree House has been incredible in helping us care for Christopher. Will you give £35 today?

Christopher and his family in the garden at chestnut covered in colourful paint splats

With the help of the lovely nurses, like Natalie, Christopher has gone bowling and to the cinema – small activities that, if I’m honest, I’ve always felt too nervous to do with him.

And if things get a little tricky with his behaviour, or we’re facing difficulties, the team at the hospice are always there to give advice.

There are so many things to do at Chestnut Tree House that mean we can break up the summer and relax.

Christopher's Sisters havin fun at Chestival

But I have to say, my favourite thing about Chestnut is actually being there. It’s a safe space for not only Christopher, but my girls, Aleassia and Aliyana, too, and means we can get out of the house and try new things.

The whole way through the summer, Chestnut holds events, like their music festival "Chestival", and every single time we go the kids have great fun. Sometimes we enjoy just being in the grounds too, in the arts and crafts room, or the play area.

I often see Christopher heading to the music room, pulling nurses along behind him! It’s amazing because, if Christopher can get to do something, then we believe he’ll be able to go further – and at Chestnut, this is made all the more possible.

Erin, Christopher's mum

Christopher and his sisters lying on the grass in the Chestnut Tree House garden

There’s nothing that gets my children as excited as weekend visits to Chestnut.

We’ve got each stay on our calendar, and every day one of the kids will tick it off.

The Care Team always do the little extras that go such a long way, like putting dinosaur bedding on Christopher’s bed because he loves them so much. And they also time his feed around what he wants to do the most, like swimming.

Christopher and his sister holding Julia Donaldson books in a marquee

The girls tend to get their own bedroom too, so they have their space while my husband, Peter, and I, get ours. The amount of relaxing we’re able to do is incredible.

Because Christopher is being cared for, we don’t have to worry about anything at all, which is so different from life at home when I’m up as much as 40 times a night looking after him. It’s a rare chance to just be a mum to my kids.

I watched Aleassia grow up so fast when Christopher was born – she was always trying to help – but being at Chestnut is a place she can be a child again.

It’s because of the endless help provided by Chestnut Tree House that I no longer need to worry about stressful summer holidays.

From taking care of Christopher’s every need to giving us the space to have fun as a family, it means so much to all of us.

Without Chestnut Tree House, I simply wouldn’t be able to balance caring for Christopher and looking after the rest of the family and our home. If you can, please send a gift today and help more families get vital support during the summer holidays.

We need your support to continue helping families like Erin's.

With the help of Chestnut Tree House, Christopher is able to have a summer of fun – and his parents, Erin and Peter, can have some well-deserved respite.

This summer, will you help families like Christopher’s to have specialised support, and so much more?

Donate £35 today and help us give families the summer of a lifetime.

There's nothing like a Chestnut Tree House summer!

£35

could pay for an hour of fun activities while parents get a well-deserved break.

£58

could give a family and their child a couple of hours splashing in our hydrotherapy pool.

£100

could help give a family like Erin’s a relaxing overnight stay at Chestnut Tree House.

Will you give £35 today?

What might seem like a little bit of support goes a long way for families like Erin's.

But we need help from people like you so more families can receive specialised care, and more, this summer.

Christopher and his mum painting together