The emergency loan of a specialist bed for six-year-old Benjamin Cameron has been ‘a life-saver’ say his family. And now they are getting a permanent piece of equipment – all thanks to Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children.
Benjamin, from Gosforth in Newcastle, has Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, a visual impairment and epilepsy. Although he is unable to walk, he can shuffle around on his bottom and pull himself up on furniture – which caused safety problems at night as he is a poor sleeper.
Mum Kelly Cameron says: “We had a bed from local statutory services but Benjamin would hang over the side and he was always in danger of falling out. We were told there was no funding available locally for a specialist bed to meet his needs so we ended up contacting Newlife Foundation.”
Newlife is the UK’s largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness.
Recognising the urgency of the situation, Newlife delivered a specialist bed, on loan, just three days later. Now, Benjamin is getting his own, permanent bed costing £5,855.
Kelly added: “It truly has been a life-saver for us. Cameron is quite strong, despite his disability, and would hang over the side of his old bed. There was a constant worry that he would fall and injure himself as he doesn’t really have an awareness of danger.
“Benjamin is happy and safe in his specialist bed – it has plenty of room for him to move around and the Perspex window in the side means he can see out. His sleep pattern has definitely improved.”
Newlife has helped provide £182,977 of equipment for 156 under-19s in Tyne and Wear. Right now, the charity is currently working with another seven families in the area with equipment needs totalling £6,635.
If you would like to help other children in Tyne and Wear like Benjamin, go to: www.newlifecharity.co.uk/tyneandwear. The website includes contact details for the Newlife County Liaison Team – tel no 01543 431 444 or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk – and shows specific ways people can help support children with disability and terminal illness and their families in the area.
Newlife guarantees that 100 per cent of monies donated or fundraised in Tyne and Wear will be used to specifically help children with disabilities and terminal illness in the county.
Pictured: Benjamin Cameron
Web: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/newlifecharity
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newlifefoundation
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/NewlifeFoundation
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/NewlifeFoundation
