He loves Disney films and being outdoors
Laura McArthur with son Archie(Image: Jessie May/ Laura McArthur)
A Bristol baby who was born four months early has grown into an “incredible” little boy with a zest for life.
Laura McArthur gave birth to her son Archie in 2017 at just 23 weeks gestation, and he spent the first 11 months of his life in hospital.
Archie, now seven, is unable to walk or talk but his proud mum says he is a joyful, sociable boy with a contagious smile and a mischievous sense of humour.
Laura, whose family lives in Westbury-on-Trym, said: “He’s an incredible little boy – we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Due to complications at birth, Archie sustained significant brain damage. He has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, chronic lung disease, limited vision and hearing, and requires a tracheostomy to help him breathe due to vocal cord paralysis.
He is wheelchair-bound and non-verbal yet his loving family have learned to communicate despite his lack of words.
They say he lights up around other children, especially when a toddler is mid-tantrum – something he finds particularly funny.
He loves Disney films, being outdoors in any weather and simply being around people, Laura said.
Along with husband Alastair, she is supported by children’s hospice care charity Jessie May, which she described as a “lifeline” in managing the challenges of Archie’s disability.
Jessie May staff with Archie, seven(Image: Jessie May/ Laura McArthur)
Today the charity has launched an urgent appeal to protect its vital services. It has been supporting families across Bristol and the surrounding areas for nearly 30 years, offering ‘hospice at home’ care for seriously ill children and their families.
Jessie May entered the family’s life when Archie was just six months old and still in hospital. “They’ve been with us on the whole journey,” Laura said. “They used to come and visit him in the hospital, and they’ve stayed with us ever since.”
Through regular home visits, the Jessie May nurses offer short breaks for Laura and Alastair, which allows them to enjoy moments as a couple, catch up on sleep, or simply take a break from the constant vigilance caring for a life-limited child demands.
“You forget how much you need to look after yourself,” Laura explained. “And if you don’t, you don’t have the energy to look after your child.”
The nurses are trained to provide high-level medical care, meaning Laura can trust them completely with Archie’s complex needs. “Sometimes I come home and they’ve cleaned the kitchen, washed up all the syringes, done his tracheostomy care, fed him and put him to bed.
“I feel so much relief that I could cry in these moments – I can come home and actually relax.”
Jessie May’s support has also enabled Archie to take part in hydrotherapy – an activity that would have been impossible without their assistance, due to the medical complexity of managing his tracheostomy in the water.
They also organise events where families receiving their support can meet each other. Laura, a former parent trustee of the charity, said: “It’s so hard to explain to friends who don’t have a disabled child what it takes just to show up somewhere.
“But at Jessie May events, everyone gets it. You don’t feel like the odd one out – you feel included.
“Hospices like Jessie May make us feel like parents again – not just carers. They allow us to be a family. Without them, we’d struggle to function. We’d be lost without them.”
Anyone able to help the charity can donate online to the hospice’s ‘We Need You’ campaign