» Kelly Boland

Hi, my name is Kelly Boland but you probably know me better as mum to Elliott. I have recently been elected as a trustee for the CdLS Foundation UK & Ireland, which I am very excited about.

Most of you know our story as you have all been right there with us, supporting and guiding us through almost 2 years of Parenthood and CdLS. Before Elliott I was young(ish) and carefree but I didn't realise that I was actually preparing to become a mum to a very special child. I had been working in the healthcare sector for 10 years working with elderly and vulnerable adults, so I knew my way around a care plan, peg feeding, endless amounts of medication and equipment.

Leaving care work I went to university to study Biomedical Science taking special interest in the genetic modules, however I never came across CdLS. Upon leaving Uni I learned pretty quickly a laboratory was no place for me as I needed the social aspect. I went on to do what most Science graduates do and I became a teacher. I don't know whether I was given the majority of students with additional learning needs because of my caring and patient nature or because I was the newbie (100% the latter) but I was grateful for them because in them I found my true calling.

Then along came Elliott who encompassed everything I had been learning for the past 15 years… I immediately realised I knew nothing and had to learn on the job. I feel like our story has been very different to other families as we were very fortunate that a consultant saw Elliott soon after birth and recognised CdLS. I know others have had to fight for months, even years to get anyone to take them seriously and I want to help the Foundation get the word out on CdLS. I want to support all the families that are just starting out on their own journeys and they don't know which way to turn. My biggest ambition though is to change that first page of Google when you look up CdLS, it is the scariest place to be when you have just been given a diagnosis.