Playing on the trampoline, storytime, swimming - little Harvey, Gabriel and Daniel Emery love the same things as most three-year-olds.

But the things that, for other youngsters their age would be simple pleasures, are a little tougher to achieve for the triplets, as they all have profound disabilities.

The boys' birth in 2015 came as something as a surprise for parents Rob and Chantel, who had previously been told she would not be able to have children following an accident which left her paraplegic.

"In 2015 my wife, Chantel, and I found out we were expecting a new addition to our family. Just over a month later we learnt that we were expecting twins. At a later appointment, the doctor informed us that there were three little ones."

On June 28, at only 26 weeks old, the couple welcomed the arrival of not just three, but four little boys who would change their lives forever - Bradley, Daniel, Gabriel and Harvey.

"Sadly, little Bradley succumbed to a blood clot and left the family at just 16 days old," says Rob.

"The family were left with a sore heart and no time to grieve as they had three warriors in hospital and older kids at home. At this point, my wife and I sat down and made a commitment to each other that we would take each day as it came."

Nearly six months after they were all born, the three boys went home - just in time for Christmas. During the next few months Rob and Chantel learnt more about each of their son’s conditions. But they didn’t know where to turn to help the boys and began their journey of meeting specialists and relentlessly asking for help.

All that changed, however, when they discovered Diverse Abilities, the charity which offers lifelong support to disabled children and adults, and their families, throughout Dorset.

The boys, now aged three, have recently started at the charity's specialist Langside School, in Poole, where they are thriving.

“We were so pleased to find Langside," says Rob.

"I knew the day I walked into the school this was the place for our family. It felt like a light at the end of the tunnel. Before Diverse Abilities and Langside School we were winging it, now we’re getting support.

"There’s always someone to talk to - it’s made our lives 100 times easier.”

With the boys starting at school at an early age, the specialist equipment, physiotherapists, occupational therapist and speech and language therapists provided by the charity are already making a difference, giving them the greatest opportunity to positively impact their development.

Staff have already seen significant improvements.

"Harvey can sit, Gabriel's high tone is decreasing and he can open his hand, and Daniel is one of the happiest little people with a contagious laugh," says Nicki, the boys teacher at Langside.

"Harvey loves the rebound therapy on the trampoline, Gabriel likes story time, bubbles and the Langside cuddles and Daniel really loves time in the hydrotherapy pool.”

However, the therapies and treatment come at a cost, with Diverse Abilities seeking the support of the local community to help make every day count for the three boys, and their classmates, to ensure they reach their full potential.

• £35 can pay for one of the boys’ favourite activities – hydrotherapy. For all the special children who attend Langside this is a vital part of their therapy programme to aid their development and reduce pain

• £100 will fund the charity’s entire nursing team for an hour, providing three nurses and four nursing assistants at the school

• £2,500 could buy a standing frame, to support Harvey, Daniel, Gabriel and any of their classmates’ physiotherapy programme; improving bone density and respiratory function, maintaining muscle length, and enabling an important opportunity to be stood up out of a wheelchair.

"They have to endure their own challenges everyday but still manage to smile and make everyone at home smile each and every day," says Rob.

"Our boys show that no matter what life throws at you there is always time for a smile. They are true heroes."

To hear more about the triplets' story and support the work of Diverse Abilities, visit diverseabilities.org.uk/onedayatatime or call 01202 718266.