Roman's Story

For the Pearse family from Plymouth, something as simple as leaving the house was once a huge challenge. Their one-year-old son Roman lives with quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, cortical vision loss, and complex epilepsy. Conditions that mean he can’t sit up, crawl, or roll over unaided. Every trip outside was fraught with worry, until a specialist buggy on emergency loan brought them relief, freedom, and joy.

The Challenges of Everyday Life

Roman’s parents wanted him to see and experience the world like any other little boy. But his standard high street buggy didn’t offer the vital support he needed. Without proper positioning, Roman would slump to one side, leaving him uncomfortable and risking long-term damage to his joints and muscles.

This made even short trips daunting. Mum Lauren explained, “Just something as simple as safely popping to the shop, as well as all his medical appointments was so difficult to do.”

A Long Wait for Help

Through their local health and social care services, the family were entitled to a specialist buggy designed for children with complex needs. However, due to demand, they faced a wait of around a year. That meant months of struggling to attend appointments and missing out on experiences that could help Roman’s development.

Newlife Steps In

Desperate to improve Roman’s quality of life in the meantime, the Pearse family turned to Newlife, a charity dedicated to helping disabled children. Newlife provided an emergency loan of a specialist buggy that gave Roman the support he needed and opened a whole new world for him.

Freedom, Adventures, and Smiles

With the new buggy, Roman could safely go wherever his family needed to be. Lauren shared: “The loan buggy from Newlife means we have been able to take him everywhere we need to go, and he’s enjoyed trips to the zoo and the aquarium too.”

Not only did it make medical appointments easier, it allowed Roman to explore and have fun, crucial for his development. It also gave his parents peace of mind, knowing he was protected even during seizures.

Lauren added, “He gets so excited when he sees us get the loan buggy out now. Having this has been a Godsend and has made all our lives so much easier!”

Why Stories Like Roman’s Matter

At make a smile lottery, we’re proud to support charities like Newlife that step in when families are facing long waits and overwhelming challenges. Every ticket you play helps fund vital services that bring relief, joy, and life-changing moments to children like Roman and their families.