St Neots mum sets up fundraiser event for her baby son

Keiley Broadhead, from St Neots, is mum to Bowen Bantock who was born with a rare chromosome abnormality and she is desperate to raise money to support his current and future needs.

Bowen's family do not yet know how severe his medical conditions could become. They have no idea if he will ever be able to walk and talk, which is something that Keiley has described as "torture".

His "one-of-a-kind chromosome deletion" is the largest deletion of the 10pa chromosome recorded on the global database used by Addenbrooke's Hospital.

It means that Bowen is fed via a tube through his nose and into his stomach, he wears hearing aids in both of his ears and he has a musculoskeletal weakness. Bowen was also born with an upper limb difference, and he only has one kidney.

Bowen was born with several medical conditions as a result of a chromosome deletion. (Image: Keiley Broadhead)

Keiley and her family were unaware of the extent of Bowen's medical conditions before he was born.

She said: "When we went for the 12-week scan everything was fine, there was no concerns, so we were really happy.

"It got to his 20 week scan and they told me that Bowen wasn’t in a great position for the scan. I wasn't worried as I'd been told this before with my other son, Ralph."

Keiley was then told that the ultrasound was not picking up Bowen's right hand. A follow up scan confirmed that Bowen would be born without a right hand.

"It was a shock and wasn’t what you expect, but I got in touch with a charity called Reach.

"It’s a charity for parents with children who have upper limb differences."

There, Keiley met with parents of children with an upper limb difference. Keiley said her experience with the charity was "reassuring", saying, "we felt that we could definitely raise a child with an upper limb difference."

Bowen was born without a right hand. (Image: Keiley Broadhead) Bowen was born in December 2023. After half an hour with her new born son, doctors informed Keiley that they suspected her baby may have further medical conditions that were not picked up on the ultrasound.

Weeks-long genetic testing found that Bowen had a chromosome deletion. Every chromosome has a P and a Q arm, but a large section of Bowen's number 10p chromosome is missing.

It is the largest deletion of the 10p chromosome on record globally, which has left his family with more questions than answers about his health.

Keiley said: "He may have many other conditions that are associated with the 10p chromosome deletion as he gets older.

"It’s your worst nightmare, having no idea but knowing all of the terrible things that could happen – not knowing if, when they’ll happen, or how often.

"All you can do is take each day as it comes."

Keiley said she fell in love with Bowen the day she gave birth. (Image: Keiley Broadhead) To support Keiley, Bowen and their family, a group of Keiley's friends will be braving the cold and running the St Neots Half Marathon on November 17.

A fundraiser has been launched, which will go towards purchasing specialist equipment and resources so Bowen can go beyond "surviving and thrive".

Bowen with his older brother, Ralph. (Image: Keiley Broadhead) In the first 24 hours, more than £500 had been donated to the Just Giving page. The funds raised so far have reached well over £3,000.

Some of the resources that the donations could buy include a physiotherapy session for Bowen, which costs £80 per session. 

One of the "life-changing" items is a fibre optic sensory rug, which costs £552.

Keiley said that she had "no idea" how expensive items that are designed for children with additional needs could be. 

If you, or anyone you know, can support Keiley's fundraiser and her friends in the St Neots Half Marathon, the link to her Just Giving page is available here.