Naomi had a smooth pregnancy, and routine scans detected no abnormalities. However, just a few hours after Dylan’s birth, Naomi noticed a change in his skin colour and alerted the nurses, who quickly took him for blood tests. At the time, Naomi and Rhodri assumed it might be jaundice, a common condition in newborns.
Dylan underwent 15 blood transfusions, which significantly improved his health. However, Naomi and Rhodri never fully understood why he required such intensive care at such a young age.
With limited information provided by healthcare professionals and no advice against having more children, the couple decided to try for another baby.
In December 2023, Naomi and Rhodri welcomed their second son, Leo, into the world.
Not long after Leo was born, Rhodri had a feeling that Leo was seriously ill.
The next 4 months became a relentless battle for Leo’s life. He was transferred between Birmingham and Bristol hospitals, undergoing 4 major operations and received more than 20 blood transfusions.
Desperate for answers, Naomi and Rhodri asked a doctor if there was any hope left for Leo and whether he had a chance of getting better. The doctor replied: “If he were my son, I wouldn’t do any more.”
Leo’s family was introduced to Charlton Farm, a place that allowed them to step away from the constant medical worries and simply be together as a family.
Rhodri shares why his family will always be grateful to Charlton Farm. Not just for the time they spent there, but for the crucial support they received during Leo’s life and after he had died in April 2024.
“Our son Leo died when he was just 4 months old. Leo was ill due to his blood breaking down at an extraordinary rate. They couldn’t put a name on what it was, because it was so rare. His condition remains undiagnosed, and we are still fighting to understand what happened.
In those early days, when everything felt impossible, Charlton Farm gave us a place to breathe.
“We were able to spend time with Leo in peace. We weren’t rushed, we weren’t handled clinically, and we were looked after. We could bathe him, hold him, and say goodbye properly. That time at Charlton Farm made an unbearable situation just a little bit more bearable."
The team were calm, kind, and thoughtful in ways we’ll never forget.
“Charlton Farm helped us in the darkest moment of our lives. We’ll always be grateful—and we’ll keep doing whatever we can to give back.”
Since then, Leo’s family has been determined to do something positive in his name and so far they have raised over £20,000 which is being split between Children’s Hospice South West and Genetic Alliance, a charity that works to improve the lives of people with genetic, rare and undiagnosed conditions
Rhodri has launched Fight For Answers—a personal challenge in which he aims to spar 100 boxers at 100 different gyms to raise both money and awareness for children like Leo who never received a diagnosis.
In addition, Rhodri has started his own social media channel to share his journey, raise awareness, and connect with other families facing similar struggles. The family has also shared Leo’s story in a Welsh-language S4C documentary, to raise awareness about undiagnosed conditions, which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Our goal is to provide more support for families, raise awareness of undiagnosed and rare childhood diseases, and keep Leo’s name alive in the process.