Oliver Sausins was just a typical, energetic nine-year-old boy from Chippenham, Wiltshire, who loved the outdoors, cycling, rugby, and steam engines. Described by his father Daniel as adventurous and lively, Oliver’s life was abruptly changed two and a half years ago when he collapsed at school following complaints of back pain.
On December 1, 2022, after playing in the playground, Oliver mentioned a sore back. Moments later, as he lined up for class, he suddenly collapsed. Daniel was called to the school and found his son surrounded by staff, alerting emergency services immediately. A CT scan revealed a mass pressing on Oliver’s spinal cord. Emergency surgery at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children revealed that instead of a tumor, Oliver was suffering from a spontaneous internal spinal hemorrhage that caused intense compression of his spinal cord, resulting in T3 paraplegia.
The cause of this internal bleeding remains unknown, leaving the family devastated and their lives irrevocably changed. Oliver spent six months in the hospital recovering, while the family adapted their Victorian home into a wheelchair-accessible space, investing £150,000 to create a supportive environment, including lifts, wet rooms, and accessible kitchen counters.
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Daniel praises Oliver’s strength but acknowledges the emotional toll on his son. At 11 years old now, Oliver faces social challenges—often feeling left out as friends go on outings he can’t attend. His dad is determined, however, to help Oliver regain independence, especially in places he loves, like the beach.
The family’s cherished beach holidays in Cornwall and Devon have become difficult, as Oliver’s current wheelchair isn’t suited for sandy terrain. To change this, they have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for a specialized wheelchair attachment that would enable Oliver to navigate the sand independently. Daniel shares how this addition would restore Oliver’s freedom and dignity in a cherished setting, giving him the chance to enjoy childhood moments—like building sandcastles—on his own terms.
Despite the obstacles, the Sausins family’s story is one of resilience, love, and hope as they fight to give Oliver the quality of life he deserves.