We Nearly Lost Our Beautiful Little Girl

The Doctors Said There Was Nothing More They Could Do – But Look At Her Now!

Chloe is a special little girl of five years old. She loves to dance, adores her baby sister Charlotte and has a big, kind heart. Chloe has Koolen de Vries syndrome, but that doesn’t define who she is and her mum and dad are determined that Chloe should have all the opportunities in life that any other little girl might have.

The syndrome comes with physical challenges that without the correct interventions can mean never being able communicate, to speak or to walk.

When Chloe was diagnosed at nine months old, the doctors said there was nothing more they could do. Chloe’s mum and dad, Melanie and James, knew that Chloe needed high quality early intervention – physiotherapy and speech therapy, for her to have a chance of leading a normal life.

They say the turning point for the family was when a place became available at Montrose and comment that being with Montrose is ‘like being part of a family’.

“They’re invested in her growing and meeting her milestones and they accommodate Chloe, not the other way around. Chloe’s epilepsy sometimes means she sleeps a lot so it’s very important to work around Chloe’s needs, scheduling around her sleep patterns”.

Chloe is attending school, mainstream two days a week and a special school on the other three days. Melanie says: “Montrose even helped with the mainstream school, facilitating meetings with the teachers to make sure Chloe had everything in place she needs to be able to achieve”.

All this would not be possible without the support of the public. Without the help of supporters, Montrose simply could not provide children and young people like Chloe the support they need to achieve to their best potential.

There is still plenty for us to do, with your help. There are many more children who are meeting challenges head on, just like Chloe, and your help will genuinely make a massive difference to their lives.

Montrose’s work with Chloe will continue as she grows up into her teenage years and beyond and Melanie and James have the same aspirations for her as any other parent would their child.

“Chloe is so kind-hearted to everyone. At special school she even helps to calm children on the autism spectrum when they get distressed. She’s funny – she knows she’s being funny – and makes people laugh. We want for Chloe what every other parent wants for their child, for her to live a full life, to be accepted and not to be seen as different”.

“The big thing for her will be to make friends and have friends around her. It’s not easy, but she has so much love and joy to give to others. We just hope she has a chance to share it”.