A specialist buggy to safely carry all his emergency equipment will mean a world of difference to the young life of Euan Mcleod from Bridlington.

Euan – who was born prematurely – has Cerebral Palsy, developmental delay and chronic lung disease. He has oxygen and suctioning equipment on stand-by at all times as he can fall ill very quickly and without warning.

In addition, he is fed through a tube in his stomach.

Because of his equipment needs, and the fact that he cannot sit upright without appropriate postural support, he is not able to safely use a standard child buggy so his parents currently take him everywhere in a carry cot on a pram base. However, Euan, aged 15 months, is now growing out of the carry cot and has started hooking his legs over the side, which poses a safety threat all of its own. In addition to this, the pram base has already buckled once under the weight of all his emergency equipment, which includes his oxygen tank.

Euan’s occupational therapist has recommended he has a specialist disability buggy, but this will cost £3,488 and statutory funding is not available. So his parents have turned to leading UK children’s disability charity Newlife Foundation for help. Newlife has funded £92,372 of equipment for disabled and terminally ill children in East Yorkshire (£765,911 across Yorkshire as a whole) – including specialist PPod seating for Euan which was delivered to the family’s home earlier this month (September 10).

Mum Elyse Mcleod said: “We have a functional seat at home for Euan, but he can’t tolerate this for very long. He could sit on our laps on the settee, but he becomes agitated because he wants to be doing things for himself. The only alternative was to put him in his cot, which also made him very upset.

“The PPod is perfect. It gives him all the postural support he needs and keeps him comfortable and is at just the right height so his two-and-a-half-year-old brother Tyler can play with him.”

Now Newlife is looking to provide a disability buggy. However, the charity is currently working with four families of disabled and terminally ill children in East Yorkshire, with equipment needs totalling £22,068 (25 families with equipment needs totalling £46,294 across Yorkshire as a whole).

Newlife is appealing to ‘local heroes’ to come forward to help fund vital specialist equipment for children in their own counties.

If you would like to donate or raise money to help Euan, the Newlife Community Fundraising Team can be contacted on freephone 0800 988 4640. Any individual or organisation thinking of running a fundraising event is asked to contact the team, who can offer support and guidance.

Any excess money raised will be used to provide equipment for other disabled and terminally ill children in Yorkshire.

Elyse Mcleod said: “Euan trialled a specialist buggy as part of his equipment assessment. He looked so happy – he was grinning all over the place because he could see the world around him for a change. Having this equipment will make a huge difference to his life.”

Pictured: Euan in a trial version of the specialist buggy which his family has applied to Newlife to fund. 

Pictured: Euan in his PPod seat, provided by Newlife. 

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