Children in Need donations improve lives with osteopathy

The Osteopathic Centre for Children at Tower Bridge is busy with families receiving treatment on a "pay what you can" basis.

The co-founder, Stuart Korth, said without Children in Need funding, they "couldn't exist" because there are not enough donations from patients to run a clinic.

One child having treatment at the London facility is 14-year-old Hendrix.

He was born with a rare brain malformation called lissencephaly, and he's getting some extra help to recover after a stay in hospital.

His mum Kehinde said: "You can see the impact it has on him in a positive way."

When Hendrix was born, his mother was told he was unlikely to live longer than two years. He is now 14.

Kehinde said: "He's my inspiration. He's a shining example because he's really really strong. I do not have the right to give up because my boy battles every single day."

Part of Hendrix's brain is smooth and did not develop the usual folds, which has led to a range of chronic symptoms.

Kehinde brought him to the Osteopathic Centre for Children when he was a baby and has returned following a bout of poor health.

She said: "Nobody wants to see their child in pain.

"Sometimes when I pick him up he looks like he's agitated or uncomfortable in his own skin. As soon as they lay hands on him, he just relaxes."

Daniel Stuttard, paediatric osteopath consultant, who treated Hendrix, said osteopathy could help children cope with certain health issues, such as cerebral palsy.

"Our attempt is to influence their physiology, their anatomy, the structures that we can feel to bring them to a sense of balance, to release tension and optimise all the vitality that they have," he said.

The Osteopathic Centre for Children has been offering healthcare on a "donate-what-you-can" basis to families for 35 years.

At the weekly clinic, parents bring their babies following a recommendation from lactation consultants, physiotherapists or GPs.

Mum Xiamara had her second session with baby Xaia, who was holding her head awkwardly and couldn't sleep on her back.

Xiamara said: "She's always slept on my belly since birth so it's a bit tiring."

She had an NHS physiotherapy appointment booked but said she might not need it now because the osteopathy treatment has made such an improvement.

She said: "It's just the lightest touch but it's made the biggest difference. I don't know how it works, but it works."

Korth said: "Even the majority of 'normal' babies have some residue of the stresses of being in the womb and of being born.

"We feel very strongly that the routine checking of babies should be part of obstetrical care. We provide that service.

"Osteopathic treatment is hardly available other than in private practices and certainly for children it's not available on the National Health Service.

"It's our mission to provide that treatment for those families who need it and can't afford it."

Children in Need donations will cover a thousand therapy sessions.

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