Mum Erika Simpson is delighted to have seen her son Reegan Samuels progress after being supported with home visits by Oldham Council’s Right Start service.
Two-year-old Reegan was smiling at the launch of Alexandra Family Hub as he made bubbles in the outdoor play area with Right Start team assistant Lauren Eaton, who has worked with him to help with his communication.
Reegan, who was born with two holes in his heart and only one valve instead of four, is non-verbal and is on the autism assessment pathway. He had his first open heart surgery when he was just three and a half months old and will need a second when he’s four years old.
Erika was put in touch with Lauren through a speech and language drop-in at Beever Family Hub in St Mary’s, the first Family Hub to open in July 2023.
She said: “I was panicking because I thought he couldn’t communicate with me. But with Lauren’s help I realised he was trying to tell me something but in different ways. Now, in the last two months, he’s babbling.”