Super Sid; One Boy, Big Courage and the Power of Makaton

Sid was diagnosed antenatally during his 20‑week scan with a serious heart defect, later found to be Tricuspid Atresia with a large VSD and ASD. At 4 weeks, he underwent his first open‑heart surgery, and then at 3 months had an emergency open‑heart surgery: the Glenn. After this operation, whilst recovering in hospital, he had a stroke, and then 2 days later another, resulting in significant brain damage to both sides of his brain.

The damage has resulted in Sid acquiring two types of epilepsy, and then sadly, aged nearly 1, he was diagnosed with infantile spasms. Whilst these spasms were waiting to be diagnosed, all the skills he had learnt e.g. smiles, waves, noises, all disappeared. After treatment, Sid continued with physiotherapy and speech and language support due to swallowing issues, amongst other things.

It was then that we found Makaton. It took Sid a while, but he soon picked up “more”, essential for requesting more chocolate!

He mastered biscuit, orange, strawberries, thank you, and his farm animals.

He’s now 4 and uses a total communication approach at his specialist setting and at home, but Makaton is his favoured communication. His little voice is coming. We’ve been learning together as a family as we go along and have followed Sign Possible. We also signed up to the Makaton Charity to support finding out words and signs.

Thank you Sign Possible for helping us during our journey, we’re very grateful! X

@supersidwilfred