Representatives from The Children’s Trust, a national charity for children with brain injury, took to the stage at Naidex last month to explain how cutting-edge neurotechnology has been instrumental in the rehabilitation of young people from across the country.

One of these young people is Leo, a 14-year-old boy who arrived at The Children’s Trust barely able to lift his head or sit independently. Now, he’s not only moving by himself but learning to walk again.

How Leo became unwell

The first sign that Leo was unwell came in March 2021 when he developed a squint in his left eye. Leo was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, but despite numerous investigations, doctors couldn’t work out what was wrong.  

Then, in September 2023, after a series of lumbar punctures and several MRIs, they discovered he had a brain tumour. Leo needed an operation to remove it immediately.  

On the night after the surgery, Leo stopped breathing and became unresponsive. The operation had caused his cerebellum to swell, and it was compressing on his brainstem.  

Leo needed another major operation to cut away the bottom part of his cerebellum to give his brainstem some space.

Recovery in hospital

When Leo first came round from his second operation, he could only blink. He couldn’t move, and he wasn’t breathing by himself. He spent more than four months in the intensive care unit, during which time his heart stopped twice.

But gradually, Leo began to make progress. He had a pacemaker implanted to regulate his heart rate and a tracheostomy fitted. His speech returned, quietly, and he could swallow. Slowly, he began to regain a little movement in his limbs – first in his thumb, and then his right arm.  

Tests had revealed Leo’s tumour was medulloblastoma, meaning that he needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy, so it wasn’t until July 2024, after a gruelling 10 months of treatment in hospital, that Leo was finally ready for his next stage of recovery – rehabilitation at The Children’s Trust.  

Incredible progress at The Children’s Trust

When Leo first arrived, Occupational Therapist Laura Buttimer was coordinating his rehabilitation. Sixteen months later, after an initial 12-week placement, seven months of community support, and now halfway through another 20-week placement, Laura has witnessed Leo make incredible progress.

“When he was originally here, he needed full support just to be able to sit up,” explains Laura. “His chair was doing all the work to keep him upright. Now he's sitting himself up. He's bringing himself forward. He changes his top half when he's sitting on the edge of the bed… and he's walking with a pulpit frame.”  

“From an upper limb side of things, he didn't have any movement in any of his fingers on his left hand, his wrist or his elbow. And now, he's made a 100% increase in being able to grasp, release and use that hand with function.’”

Neurotechnology speeds up Leo’s recovery

During his time at The Children’s Trust, Leo has had access to a range of neurotechnology that has encouraged gentle repetition of movement in the most painless way – physically, mentally and emotionally.

“Leo has probably used more of our kit than most kids here,” explains Laura. “He’s used the Diego, the GripAble, and we did a bit of work on the Fesia. And in physiotherapy, he’s used the Innowalk and the Guldmann Hoist – that’s been instrumental from a physical development side of things, and also with his confidence.”

For children like Leo, this technology doesn’t just offer physical support so that they can gradually build strength; it also makes the process more interesting, so that they can stick with it for longer.

The Diego, for example, supports the arm while a child watches and plays an interactive game on a screen in front of them. “It’s a motivating factor,” says Laura. “What we're really looking at repetition and building on neuroplasticity after a brain injury. That’s where games are really useful, because the children don't know that they're doing those reps – so it’s that distraction factor as well. Without them, we’d see more difficulties getting them engaged.”

The Innowalk Pro, explains Laura, is a lower limb device which creates the opportunity for repetitive stepping with the upper body supported in a standing position, while the GripAble is a gamified app that measures and tracks hand and arm movements and grip strength.

While it’s impossible to know where Leo’s recovery would be without the neurotechnology, Laura is certain he wouldn’t be where he is now. His progress slowed down considerably while he was at home in between his two placements at The Children’s Trust – indicating just how much of an impact it has.  

Looking to the future  

During the last month of his time at The Children’s Trust, one of his main goals was to keep strengthening his walk. He has come so far and his journey continues, but Laura believes he'll live independently one day.  

“I honestly think that boy will work, he'll contribute to society, and he'll go to university if he wants to. And what's really important is, I think he's beginning to see that he can do these things too.”