From the initial diagnosis of Matthew’s infantile spasms right through to providing support for his eye rolls post discharge the guys at Temple Street Children’s Hospital have been amazing. The time has come were we can now give a little something back, and perhaps help other children and their families that are suffering from neurological conditions.

It’s happened at least three times since discharge, but Mattie had had the odd eye role. At first we thought he was just messing with us, or perhaps we’d imagined it, and actually he was just playing. However I caught the second one on camera.

We were reading the Gruffalo book, and Mattie being a huge fan was loving every minute of it. His speech had come on fantastically and he was acting all super cute, pointing out the characters and what they were up to. I decided to a video to send to friends and relatives and it was just as I was recording that he had an eye roll. Thankfully I had caught it on camera. I was able to re-watch it with Emma and make sure that it wasn’t me imagining it.

Emma got in touch with the neurology department at temple street, and even though we were discharged they reviewed our footage and got back to us. They diagnosed these new eye rolls as a “benign tonic upgaze” which happens with all children on occasion. So nothing to worry about, although if they increase in frequency, intensity or duration we are to give them a call. It was great to get that support even though Mattie wasn’t actually a patient.

Giving Something Back

We thought it would be great to give something back to the hospital and in particular the neurology department. So Emma has signed up for one of Ireland’s largest army assault style runs, it’s called Hell and Back. - The clue really is in the name. It would be great if you could consider supporting Emma and Temple Street by sponsoring her via this link here: http://www.mycharity.ie/event/emma_woodss_event/

Alternatively if you just want to watch the obstacles Emma is going to have to under take you can check out the event videos here.