THE PARENTS of ‘incredible’ Droitwich youngster Frankie Hotham are aiming to raise cash to give their daughter the best chance possible to walk and talk.
James Hotham and Hannah Bateman have set up a GoFundMe to raise cash for Frankie, aged four, who has cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and is currently non-verbal.
The couple feels that the current NHS treatment Frankie receives isn’t sufficient to meet her needs moving forward, and have looked into potentially life-changing private forms of care.
This includes NAPA Intensive Therapy, which is designed to accelerate progress in movement, strength, and communication, and Stem Cell therapy, which the parents hope will improve Frankie’s mobility, coordination, and speech.
It is expected that her treatment costs next year will be between £35,000 and £40,000.
So far, almost £11,000 has been raised for Frankie through the GoFundMe page.
Frankie’s mum, Hannah, told the Standard: “Frankie is generally a really happy, bubbly young girl. She communicates in her own way, enjoys things like swimming, soft play, and is a very easy going person.
“She’s just started school and is loving it. We are really proud of her.
“The end goal is for her to be able to walk and talk. It would be amazing.
“It’s really good how much we have raised, and we haven’t done any fundraisers. If we could raise even half the amount we need, that would be amazing.”
Some of the treatments Frankie will have will need to be repeated yearly to give her the best possible chance to walk and talk, so her loved ones will be doing more fundraising in the future.
Her father, James, added: “Frankie is an incredible little girl who lights up every room with her smile and determination.
“Every day, Frankie faces challenges that most of us take for granted — moving independently, communicating her needs, and being able to explore the world in her own way.
“Despite this, she is the happiest, most resilient child, and she inspires everyone around her.
“These therapies come at a huge cost, and we cannot achieve this on our own. That is why we are reaching out for help.
“Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to giving Frankie the opportunities she deserves.”
Visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-frankies-dream-of-walking-and-talking?utm_source=chatgpt.com to donate.
