Family Launches Video Diary With Expert Medical Lawyers To Highlight Rehabilitation Battle

The parents of an inspirational little boy, who suffered brain damage as a result of mistakes made by midwives when he was being born, have spoken out for the first time as they work with specialist medical lawyers to secure the rehabilitation and specialist care he needs for the rest of his life.

Mac Giggs, who is almost four, from Rottingdean, in Brighton has four-limbed athetoid cerebral palsy due to the injury he sustained at his birth. Expert medical evidence found that if he had been delivered 11 minutes earlier by the midwives, he would have not suffered a brain injury, but instead he will be entirely dependent on others for the rest of his life.

The family instructed Irwin Mitchell medical lawyers specialising in cerebral palsy claims to help them obtain answers as to what happened and to secure funds for the lifetime care, support and rehabilitation he will need.

Two years ago, the Trust responsible for his injuries admitted failings and apologised to the family. Interim settlement payments allowed the family to access specialist rehabilitation until Mac’s case is reviewed in November 2015 when he is five-and-a-half years old and his life long care needs can be fully assessed.

Now the family and their lawyers have launched a video diary campaign to show the inspirational rehabilitation battle Mac is currently undergoing. Mac’s parents Valerie and Darren have been working with Irwin Mitchell to produce the powerful and emotive video documentary series: 'Family Life with Mac’ which highlights the impact of Mac’s disability and demonstrates the help and support that the law firm has been able to provide for Mac and his family.

Throughout the four part series, Mac and his family will work will physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists to show the impact these services have on development and rehabilitation.

On 4th March 2010, following a normal pregnancy, his mum Valerie was admitted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital for the birth of her first child. Due to serious complications during labour, when the midwife failed to identify a 4cm loop of prolapsed umbilical cord, Mac suffered brain damage.

Valerie said: "Our little boy had the worst start to life as a result of the hospital’s mistakes and that has been very difficult for the family to come to terms with.

"Mac’s cerebral palsy affects all his limbs making movement very difficult, but with the therapies and specialist equipment he continues to amaze us with the steps he has taken – he is truly an inspiration.

"We are really happy to work with Irwin Mitchell to help produce a video documentary series which we hope will inspire other families and also show what help and support is available for children with disabilities. It’s not an easy situation to deal with, but there is assistance out there which has a massive positive impact on not just Mac’s life but ours too – and we wanted to share that with others.

"It was a huge relief to us that the Trust has admitted responsibility and apologised to us for the failings two years ago, and we are now looking forward to the legal proceedings coming to a close next year. We just hope that steps have been taken to learn from the mistakes so that no other family has to go through what we have."

If medical errors during birth caused your child’s cerebral palsy, our expert solicitors could help you claim compensation. Visit out Cerebral Palsy Claims page for more information or call or free on 0808 163 4557.