'Finally, the family can plan for the future': how Fieldfisher's intervention changed a boy's life
"With the original legal team in place, funds were short and there were always delays, meaning it was difficult to implement the right therapies. The rental property Sean and the family were moved into was too small for his needs. There was constant stress on the family, never knowing how Sean's health would be and he was regularly hospitalised.
Understandably, with so much going on, the family was reluctant to change solicitors. But once they instructed Jill, communication drastically changed and the insurers understood that with someone so serious and professional in charge, they would have to improve their ways of working.
Jill immediately accessed appropriate interim funding and the family was moved to a much better property, with a separate therapy room for Sean, an accessible bathroom, access to a big garden and space for his care team to sleep a work. This was all downstairs, meaning the family could live upstairs and have visitors without interrupting Sean. Before, Sean's therapies took place in his bedroom, surrounded by toys.
The change in Sean was incredible. Previously, he had suffered ongoing respiratory difficulties, needing regular suctioning and often causing chest infections and hospital stays.
Probably the most valuable improvement was that funding meant he could have the right medical care at home – a private respiratory consultant was engaged and a respiratory therapist came to the house three times a day and his condition stabilised. This in turn meant he was much more aware and responsive. Previously, he'd been very passive and sleepy but now he began to engage more with therapies, such as speech and language and music, and responded well. What might look small on the outside – such as better head control – was massively positive for Sean.
Partly because of Covid, we also pushed for home schooling for Sean, which has continued. He engages much better with the routine at home. He can now respond to other people and tries to communicate – emotionally, that is very positive for the family.
I would say proactive, private medical healthcare was absolutely key to Sean's case. Knowing we have the funds to access private care means we can always think beyond the mainstream and consider things like horse riding, a trampoline, hydrotherapy – always looking for new things to provide variety.
It also means the family has more time for themselves, they can finally relax more and have some time off. They have also taken Sean on holiday to Centre Parks, which offers accessible housing including hot tubs and hoists.
Sean is now seven years-old. The family's confidence in Jill that they could stop worrying about the litigation hugely reduced their stress and anxiety and fundamentally changed all their lives.
There are plans to take him abroad to India and Kenya to visit family. Finally, the whole family can plan for the future with joy and positivity."
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