AS part of our Project Chrysalis campaign to raise £35,000 for the Megan Baker House, we are introducing the first of many children whose life has been changed by the charity's work.

Meet Megan and her mum Sarah Baynham, who says she cannot imagine what life would have been like without MBH.

She said: "Megan was born 12 weeks prematurely, in 2000. By the time she was just one week old, the doctors told us Megan had grade three and grade four damage to her brain, after she suffered bleeds. The result, they said, would be that Megan would have no quality of life. She would not hear, see, talk, walk, feed herself or even recognise us. Imagine if you can, how that feels to new parents. We were devastated.

It was heart-breaking, until we heard about conductive education and saw how it could make such a huge difference to youngsters who were in the same situation as Megan. The proof of the pudding is, as they say, in the eating.

"Megan can now do most of the things the doctors thought she would not do. It’s come about through a lot of hard work and dedication from the fantastic staff at MBH, teaching her and us to incorporate conductive education into our daily lives."

Megan, who has cerebral palsy, began conductive education when she a one-year-old at school, but it stopped when she reached four.

Her family was disappointed, having seen its benefits, and as Sarah was Megan's full-time carer they simply could not afford to pay the cost for private sessions.

But after discovering and making contact with Megan Baker House they were delighted when Megan was offered a place, once a week, at the North Herefordshire centre.

During the last 11 years, Megan has attended the centre every week. She has also participated in a number of block sessions.

It was during the first block session that Megan took her first independent steps.

"Try and imagine if you can, how wonderful it was to take Megan for a walk for the first time – holding her hands. It was just wonderful – something all parents take for granted, but not us," said Sarah.

"Without Megan Baker House, our daughter would not have physically developed in the way she has, or learnt how to do so many of the daily life skills we all feel are simple tasks, but not if you have cerebral palsy.

"Without MBH, Megan would be a lot more ‘physically unable’ – without their detailed teaching that is taught with so much patience in such tiny repetitive steps that enable learning for the children they help."

Sarah praised the 'wonderful, welcoming and supportive' staff who also provide a sense of security and, importantly, make Megan feel independent.

"All I can say is that Megan Baker House is a vitally important part of Megan’s life – and ours. Without the facility and help the charity provides, we would not have been able to access conductive education and what that would have meant to Megan doesn’t bear thinking about.

"Thank you Megan Baker House and all the wonderful staff there."

Ways to donate to our appeal:

- Visit justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/meganbakerhouse/projectchrysalis

- Send a cheque to Megan Baker House, Moreton Eye, Leominster, HR6 0DP

- Call the charity on 01568 616179 to arrange a BACS transfer