A specialist seating system will see 13-year-old Samuel Wright ‘sitting pretty’ this Christmas.
Sam, from Belper in Derbyshire, has Cerebral Palsy, Epilepsy and a learning disability. Sam relies on a wheelchair for mobility; he has increased tone in his leg muscles and his hips are closely monitored because they have a tendency to ‘abduct’.
Everyone likes a comfy chair to relax in at the end of the day, but Sam has been denied this – until now. A £2,895 specialist seating system provided by Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children means he is appropriately supported, to help reduce future health problems, in comfort.
With no funding available from local statutory services, Sam’s occupational therapist advised the family to contact Newlife – the UK’s largest charity funder of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness.
Mum Carol Wright said: “Our OT had previously worked with Newlife to secure equipment for local children. Having this new seating will help Sam with a current development programme at school. One of the main aims of the programme, called ‘Move’, is to be properly seated – and comfortable – at home. Before the chair came he was on the sofa, which doesn’t support his needs at all. We were having to reposition him every ten minutes or so because he was uncomfortable and getting painful leg cramps.
“The new seating aligns his legs into the correct position. It was specially made to fit Sam’s particular needs, for his tall and skinny frame, and it has a ‘tilt in space’ feature which he really likes because he can tilt it himself.”
With demand for its range of services increasing dramatically, the charity is increasingly looking to ‘local heroes’ to help fund essential equipment for children in their own counties.
Newlife has provided specialist equipment for 288 children in Derbyshire, totalling more than £222,000. However, the charity is currently working with a further 11 families, with combined equipment needs of £655. If you would like to help a disabled child in your area, go to: www.newlifecharity.co.uk/derbyshire and click on the Donate button. The website also gives more information about children in the area who have already been helped and ways you can fundraise. Alternatively, you could contact the Newlife County Liaison Team on 01543 431 444, email local@newlifecharity.co.uk.
Newlife guarantees that 100 per cent of monies donated in Derbyshire will be used to provide specialist equipment for children in the county.
For full details of Newlife Foundation’s range of practical support for disabled and terminally ill children and their families, call the Newlife Nurse Helpline – 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines and mobiles) – or go to: https://newlifecharity.co.uk
Pictured: Samuel Wright
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