"The Fund’s tailored support for our disabled son has changed our lives"

Corporal Rob Taylor joined the RAF in 2007 after growing up in Lincolnshire, a county famous for its RAF heritage, and inspired by his grandfather who served. Rob never thought he’d require support from the RAF Benevolent Fund, however everything changed following the birth of Rob and his wife Amy’s second child, Kody.

Rob and Amy first noticed something wasn’t right when Kody was around ten months old and wasn’t using his arm properly. Rob said: "His right arm was tucked in all the time – we thought it was odd, so we got a referral to paediatrics and he had an MRI."

Kody was diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. The results showed Kody had a blood clot on one of the main arteries on his brain caused by pre-natal damage, which essentially killed off 80% of the left hand-side of his brain. Because of this, Kody has limited control over the right hand side of his body, and suffers from epileptic seizures, autism and learning difficulties. Kody is nonverbal and can’t walk more than 20 metres at a time.

"We went from being a normal family to our lives turning upside down. We didn’t know what to do, or how to manage Kody’s condition, and provide him with what he needed. It was a challenging time for us all, including our daughter Ashley.

"SSAFA referred us to the Fund, and they changed our lives. Initially, they sent an Occupational Therapist to our house to tell us what we would need to provide a safe living space for Kody."

Rob and Amy bought a bungalow but it needed adaptions, and Kody needed specialist mobility equipment. The Fund provided the family with a specialist changing bed, a specialist sleeping bed and a buggy for Kody to move around – Kody has had three buggies over the years as he has grown.

"The buggy is great – it comes with beach wheels, converts into a bicycle trailer, has fully harnessed cushions and is easy to push. It allows us to get around, go anywhere we want and do normal activities as a family.

"The support has been amazing – a safe pathway with a soft floor that was built all around the house, so if Kody has a seizure and hits his head, he won’t get injured. A patio was put in with the soft floor too. Under floor heating was installed as Kody spends a lot of time on the floor, and the doors in the house were all widened so he’s able to get around easily. It’s now super safe for him."

The Fund’s support has been a game-changer for the Taylor family. Rob said: "We don’t have to worry about going out anymore – the mobility equipment and adaptations have meant that Kody has access to wherever he wants, just like a normal nine-year-old would. You can’t ask for much more than that.

"For anyone considering reaching out to the Fund – just do it. You’d be surprised at the extent of support they can provide. The support has changed my family’s lives for the better."