Keeping up with Keira

Keeping up with Keira Keira is our amazing daughter who fights every day against cerebral palsy. We raise funds continually for therapy, equipment and for her every day needs.

Please follow her on her amazing journey where she continues to show cerebral palsy who's boss! Keira Marilyn is my amazing daughter who just turned 14 on 7th of Jan 2022. Keira has HIE this means her brain was starved of oxygen at birth. She also has Cerebral Palsy - Spastic Quadriplegic Dyskinetic this means that all four of her limbs are affected and she has involuntary and unorganised movement

s and the spasticity causes her limbs to be stiff. Keira also has a diagnosis of epilepsy. Despite her every day challenges Keira is one of the happiest little girls you would meet, her smile will brighten the darkest of your days. She communicate using her Tobii eye gaze communication device and will make you laugh if you give her a chance. Like many children using assistive technology it takes time for her to respond but she will if the person gives her a minute or two! It is important to not see a child as their disability but to just see them as every other person in the world. Keira often gets upset when people ask me questions for her as she is more than capable of nodding or shaking her head for yes and no or using her eye gaze to respond. She loves music and navigates her way through you-tube independantly finding her weekly/monthly "sounds" she mostly loves listening to Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Ed-Sheeran, Harry Styles, The Cure and Pink Floyd. I believe some of these she likes and may remember from me listening to when she was in my belly! We will enjoy concerts together I know we will! Follow her on instagram to also keep up to date with her teenage antics!!

Managed a couple of laps around the track before it started to rain!! That didn't stop me smiling from ear to ear. Happy...
07/09/2026

Managed a couple of laps around the track before it started to rain!! That didn't stop me smiling from ear to ear. Happy happy!!

31/08/2026

Frame running session 26/27 has commenced!! First race is Sunday morning so I need happy, positive thoughts, as well as good weather vibes!

When your child is a baby, toddler or young child, holidays can feel easier. They’re cute, and the loud noises, stimming...
30/08/2026

When your child is a baby, toddler or young child, holidays can feel easier. They’re cute, and the loud noises, stimming and differences often go unnoticed. They can join in, enjoy the splash pads or play in the toddler pool at a water park, and nobody really questions why they’re there.

But disability doesn’t disappear when a child becomes a teenager. And they don’t necessarily grow out of the things they loved as younger children — sometimes, the world simply expects them to.

What was once seen as cute or innocent can suddenly be judged differently when it’s a fully grown teenager stimming or enjoying a splash pad. It can be much harder to take my 18-year-old, full-time wheelchair user into a splash pad when people stare and wonder why they are there.

And honestly, the staring itself doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is when parents hush their children, pull them away and tell them it’s rude to stare.

Instead, use that moment to educate your child.

Let them ask questions. Let them be curious. Ask me about my children’s disabilities — I will gladly explain.

Children aren’t born understanding disability. They learn from the adults around them.

So rather than teaching them to look away, teach them that it’s okay to notice differences, ask respectful questions and understand that everyone deserves to be included — even when they’ve outgrown the age society thinks they should be playing in the splash pad.

Being a mum is hard.Being a caregiver mum is harder.Parenting is challenging for everyone, but when you have children wi...
19/08/2026

Being a mum is hard.

Being a caregiver mum is harder.

Parenting is challenging for everyone, but when you have children with complex needs, everything changes.

You aren't just their mum. You become their nurse, therapist, teacher, carer, advocate and voice. You fight for education, therapies, medical support, respite, equipment and services. You fill in forms, attend meetings, make calls, chase professionals and constantly explain your child's needs.

And the advocacy is exhausting.

I saw a post saying special-needs parents are looking for a "pity party". No. Talking about how difficult life can be isn't asking for pity. This post was by an Autism mum, and honestly I don't know if she is one of the luckier ones who doesn't have to constantly fight for services. I'm truly happy if she does have help, but unfortunately it's not always the case.

Asking for help isn't weakness. It's reality.

For many families, there is no real time off. Even when your child is asleep, you're still listening, checking and worrying. And as our children grow older, their care needs don't necessarily disappear. For some of us, caring responsibilities continue into adulthood.

That's why respite isn't a luxury.

It's a necessity.

We need time to sleep, breathe, see friends, spend time with our significant others, attend appointments or simply sit down with a cup of tea without being needed for a few minutes.

We can love our children fiercely and still admit that caring is hard.

Both things can be true.

This isn't a pity party.

It's our reality.

Instead of judging parents for saying they need help, perhaps we should listen.

Because asking for support doesn't make us bad parents.

It makes us human.

And sometimes the strongest thing a caregiver can say is:

"I need help."

We shouldn't have to be completely broken before someone helps us put the pieces back together.

Scotland needs to do better for children with disabilities.Too often they are excluded, and it’s unacceptable that they ...
17/08/2026

Scotland needs to do better for children with disabilities.

Too often they are excluded, and it’s unacceptable that they are not receiving their exam results alongside their peers.

They deserve the same opportunities as everyone else. There's a fabulous story about a young man called Patrick from England, he was fully included in his GCSEs, given time and support to succeed, over 5 months to do the exams. In Scotland, children are too often limited to low-level qualifications like Nat 1, with no real chance to progress. Disability should never mean lower expectations — it should mean more time, patience and support.

I’m often praised for fighting for inclusion, but I’m also disappointed I didn’t manage to secure more for Keira. She only attended mainstream school for a few hours a week. That is not true inclusion. I was exhausted from constantly pushing for something I believe in, but rarely felt it existed here.

Our children are capable of so much more, but the system doesn’t listen enough to parents or see their potential. When Keira was moved to Nat 2 Maths, I felt hopeful for the first time in a while, but we still haven’t received her results and I doubt it will be included, just the same as last year, Nat 1 level.

The issue is simple: it takes belief, patience and proper support — things our system too often lacks.

Our children deserve to be included, supported and believed in, with the same opportunities as every other child. I really wish I'd fought more for Keiras education rights, but honestly it's exhausting mentally and takes it's toll. It really does.

Lovely day out Blair Drummond Safari Park first stop was the easy to use inclusive swing ♿️ clear instructions for use. ...
13/08/2026

Lovely day out Blair Drummond Safari Park first stop was the easy to use inclusive swing ♿️ clear instructions for use. I loved seeing all the animals today but my favourite were the Meerkats and Wallabies, my brother liked the monkeys and penguins. Such a wonderful place with easy access to everything and a Official Changing Places UK which is always an absolute plus ➕️ to make our lives that bit easier when out and about!

Wonderful day out at West Sands St Andrews today. Hamish Foundation thank you for the free hire, we are forever grate...
12/08/2026

Wonderful day out at West Sands St Andrews today. Hamish Foundation thank you for the free hire, we are forever grateful to have you less than an hour away. Anyone who is taking a trip to St Andrews beach sure to check out the Hamish foundation beach chairs, they have so many to chose from and booking is easy. Van can be parked right beside where you pick the chair up, with direct beach access steps away.

Sometimes you just need to hop on the train, and get away from your own mother who, excuse me, has no fashion sense. Go ...
07/08/2026

Sometimes you just need to hop on the train, and get away from your own mother who, excuse me, has no fashion sense. Go with your favourite, like minded person and get anything you want. Yes it was totally worth it. I don't think we can afford to do these shopping sprees constantly though £££££ 😆 TOTALLY worth it

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Almondvale Avenue
Livingston
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