Reggie's Story | The Play Team at Leeds Children's Hospital

Five-year-old Reggie is a bright and determined little boy who lives with Down’s Syndrome.

Throughout his life, he’s faced ongoing medical challenges, from low muscle tone and hypermobility to serious infections and feeding complications...

But nothing prepared his family for what came next.

After weeks of illness, Reggie was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He spent three months on the oncology ward at Leeds Children’s Hospital.

For seven of those weeks, he was completely isolated. No shared spaces, no visitors beyond his parents, and no chance to play with other children. He was also too unwell to leave his bed.

“Those early days were really hard,” said his dad, Chris. “But even then, the Play Team would pop in a few times a day to bring him toys or crafts. They got to know his favourite things and shared them with toy donors around Christmas. That really meant a lot.”

Since that first admission, Reggie has had several hospitals stays on different wards. And every time, the Play Team, funded by Leeds Hospitals Charity, has been there. Whether it’s puzzles, crafts or just stopping by for a quick chat, those small interactions have helped lift Reggie’s spirits - and given his parents moments to catch their breath.

Read more: Meet our Play Team

“One of the Play Team saw how hard it was for us to even eat or go to the toilet,” Chris said. “She offered to spend time with Reggie for an hour or two each day so we could eat a hot meal together. Although he did turn her into a Smurf when we weren’t looking…”

Zoe, a Play Specialist on the ward, has made a lasting impact on the whole family. She didn’t just entertain Reggie - she connected with him. From building dinosaur lands out of scrap materials to dancing under disco lights during Friday ‘parties’ complete with music and bubbles, Zoe made hospital feel like a place where Reggie could still laugh, play and be himself.

That play made a huge difference. “He used to shout ‘no’ whenever doctors or nurses came near him,” Chris said. “Now he’s playful with them. That makes meds and checks so much easier.”

But perhaps the most remarkable part of Reggie’s journey is how play helped him learn to walk again.

After weeks in bed, he’d lost all strength. His muscles had weakened, and standing wasn’t possible at first. “We used play to encourage him,” said Chris. “Each day we moved the play mat a bit further away. Then we told him about all the exciting things in the playroom - and that was it. He wanted to go.”