By Lucy John

Copyright walesonline

For seven-year-old Freddie and his family, July 12 started out as an ordinary summer’s afternoon. Freddie, his parents Kimberley and Luke, and big sister, Charlie, were at a family friend’s house for a barbecue, just a mile away from home. The children were laughing and playing together on the trampoline, enjoying the sunshine, when suddenly Freddie fell awkwardly. Freddie was momentarily knocked out. His sister Charlie stayed by his side, holding his hand, while their friend ran to get help. By the time his parents got to him, Freddie was conscious but scared. He couldn’t stand up, his leg felt like “jelly” and he seemed disoriented. Kimberley and Luke quickly took him to The Grange Hospital to get him checked over. While at the hospital, Freddie’s condition appeared to be improving and he was getting ready to be discharged. However, as Freddie bent down to pick up a packet of crisps he had dropped, he suddenly felt dizzy. Within moments, the left side of Freddie’s body went limp. A team of doctors and nurses rushed into the room and he was immediately taken for scans. It was revealed that during his fall Freddie had torn an artery in his neck which resulted in a minor stroke. Right before their eyes, Freddie had just suffered a second, more severe one. Freddie was rushed to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales in Cardiff under blue lights, where he was administered blood thinners. His family then faced a nerve-wracking wait to see if he would require a stent. Fortunately, over the subsequent weeks, the artery began to heal naturally, a Noah’s Ark charity spokeswoman said. The stroke had left Freddie unable to move his left side. He was unable to sit up in bed independently, and his mouth had drooped. For three days he couldn’t eat until doctors were confident it was safe for him to swallow. His parents feared their once healthy, energetic little boy might never walk again. The initial two weeks of Freddie’s recovery were crucial. He was closely monitored due to the high risk of another clot forming. He commenced the hospital’s neuro rehabilitation programme, supported by a dedicated multidisciplinary team. Freddie underwent physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and hydrotherapy in the hospital’s specialist pool. Freddie diligently worked with his rehab team and soon began to regain his strength. His leg and foot were the first to recover, and although his arm took longer, he persevered. By the time summer ended, Freddie had missed his entire six-week holiday, but he was home. No longer reliant on a wheelchair, he was back in the garden kicking a football with his dad. His balance is still a little shaky, and his fine motor skills are taking time to catch up, but every week brings new progress. Kimberley told the Noah’s Ark charity: “He’s getting better every day. The difference week by week is amazing. Freddie has always been a hundred miles an hour and we’re still forever telling him to slow down!” Now seven, Freddie is preparing for a phased return to school . He’s excited to get back to cricket, football, and swimming, the sports he loves most. A spokeswoman for the charity said: “Your donations made it possible for the charity to support Freddie and his family during their difficult summer by providing a counselling service and fun things like therapy dog visits to brighten up long hospital days. “You help fund the play specialists that keep Freddie busy, the hydrotherapy pool that helped him regain his strength and some of the equipment that helped monitor Freddie’s progress and eventually get him home. Thank you.”