### Wiltshire Boy’s Life Transformed by Sudden Paralysis: Family Appeals for Support
An energetic Wiltshire schoolboy, once said to be “perfectly healthy”, has experienced a dramatic shift in his young life after suffering an unexpected medical crisis at just nine years old. Now 11, Oliver Sausins finds himself coping with paraplegia, his daily experiences and friendships forever altered by a rare condition that has left his parents, Daniel and his mother, desperately seeking ways to enhance his quality of life.
Prior to the incident, Oliver had been a typical child—adventurous, active, and thriving outdoors alongside his twin sister. He loved riding his bike, scaling trees, and was never one to shy away from exploring the world beyond his doorstep. “He was always the first to run outside and the last to come in from playing,” his father, Daniel, recalls, reflecting on the simple joys that defined their family routine before tragedy struck.
The devastating change began on 1 December 2022, during a seemingly ordinary school lunch break. Oliver started to feel back pain while playing, which prompted staff to suggest that he sit and rest. However, when the bell rang for classes, Oliver tried to stand—and suddenly collapsed, unable to move. Daniel was urgently summoned to the school, where he found his son lying helpless among worried teachers. It was immediately clear to Daniel that his son’s distress was severe and likely neurological, owing to his background in first aid.
Emergency services responded swiftly, rushing Oliver to hospital. There, an initial CT scan indicated a mass pressing on his spinal cord. Given the seriousness, he was transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children for an urgent operation, as medical experts initially feared he might have cancer. After seven painstaking hours of surgery in theatre, however, surgeons discovered that the cause was not a tumour, but a spontaneous bleed enveloping his spinal cord—a rare and largely unexplained event that resulted in permanent T3 paraplegia.
The aftermath has forced the Sausins family into a completely new reality. Six months in hospital was just the beginning as they restructured their Victorian terrace house in Chippenham to cater to Oliver’s new needs—adding a lift, bespoke wet rooms, and adapting every aspect of family life. “It turned everything upside down overnight,” Daniel explains. “You don’t prepare for something like this—it just happens, and suddenly your other children are living with their grandparents while you stay at the hospital.”
Adapting to physical challenges has been just one part of Oliver’s journey. Socially, things have shifted: friends are less likely to include him in birthday parties or days out, and Daniel admits this isolation is keenly felt by his son. “At that age, children shouldn’t feel left out of life’s experiences,” he says. “He misses being part of the fun—and while inclusion isn’t always easy, it’s hard as a parent knowing he doesn’t get to join in all the things he used to love.”
Despite this, the family continues to focus on small victories and the activities they can still enjoy together. The beach remains a cherished destination for the Sausins family, but Oliver’s standard wheelchair simply cannot handle the sand. Daniel explains how difficult it is for Oliver to access his favourite spots, especially knowing that being dragged or pushed is not only physically uncomfortable but embarrassing for a child eager for independence.
To help Oliver reclaim some of the freedom lost, his parents hope to purchase a specialist attachment for his wheelchair that would allow him to traverse sand with ease. The device, which costs over £5,000, would restore a measure of autonomy, enabling him to rejoin his siblings at the water’s edge and indulge in building sandcastles—simple pleasures now just out of reach.
The family has turned to crowdfunding to raise the necessary funds and has received messages of support from across the community. Daniel stresses that giving Oliver this independence is about so much more than mobility: “It’s a way to show him that, after all he’s endured, life still holds possibilities. We want him to feel included, to know that there are things he can do rather than dwell on those he can’t.”
In a landscape where the unexpected can overturn lives in seconds, the Sausins family’s resilience is a reminder of the importance of accessibility, understanding, and community support for children with severe disabilities.
For those who wish to contribute to Oliver’s journey towards greater freedom, the family’s fundraising page remains open for donations.