Appeal for boy too poorly to say ‘mum’
SPALDING Garth School pupil Joshua Holmes (3) is too poorly to say “mum” or talk at all.
But he is the apple of his mum’s eye and has a smile that melts hearts.
Single mum Aimee Holmes (27), of Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge, and her family and friends have spent hundreds of pounds on equipment to make life more comfortable for Joshua.
But the going is tough for Aimee, a full-time carer on benefits, so we have given £300 from The Lincolnshire Free Press Children’s Fund to kick-start her £1,200 appeal to buy a specially adapted shed that can house Joshua’s soft play ball pool and other sensory equipment.
Joshua has severe quadriplegic cerebral palsy – a condition affecting all four limbs – and is fed through a tube in his tummy.
Aimee said: “Joshua is unable to sit, crawl, walk or talk and is fed via a gastrostomy tube.
“He has severe global development delay and attends the Garth special needs school two days a week.
“Through all his problems Joshua has the most amazing smile and he melts the hearts of everyone he meets.
“During the three years so far we have had to self-fund many items of equipment which are not funded by authorities, but which make a huge difference to his life.
“So far we have funded a special trike, a swing seat, a bubble tube and fibre optic lights, a specialised seat and, most recently, a soft play ball pool and many other expensive special needs toys.”
Family and friends have bought everything so far, but Aimee has asked us – and our readers – to help with the shed project.
As well as buying a 15ftx10ft shed, the family must fit it out with insulation, carpeting, power and heating so Joshua and Aimee can spend at least two hours inside it each day.
Aimee’s dad, David, has volunteered to fit out the shed.
Aimee also has sons Jake (9), who has attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder, and Oliver (5).
l If you can help, please donate to The Lincolnshire Free Press Children’s Fund – marking cheques ‘Joshua Appeal’ on the back – and send them to us at Priory House, Spalding, PE11 1AB.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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