BRAVE Exeter toddler Alfie Lowday is going places – thanks to a new state-of-the art buggy.
The buggy, which can carry little Alfie and all his emergency medical equipment comes from UK children's disability charity Newlife Foundation,
Alfie, who is 19 months old, was born prematurely, which resulted in breathing problems and him being given a tracheostomy.
He was also born with a rare condition – craniosynostosis – which means his skull fused too early and potentially would have caused pressure to his brain.
Alfie has just recently undergone major skull surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to correct this.
Because of his complex needs, Alfie receives oxygen 24/7 and has to travel everywhere with his oxygen tank and monitor, suction machine, ventilator mask and emergency box.
Mum Rosie Giles says: "A standard child buggy just can't accommodate all this equipment safely. Whereas a specialist buggy is not only strong enough to carry it all, it provides easy access to the equipment when we need to get to it quickly for emergency procedures."
Local statutory services will not provide a specialist buggy for Alfie because he doesn't have specific postural needs. Faced with a £780 bill for the equipment, Rosie and her partner Tom Lowday turned to Newlife Foundation for helpon the advice of their community nurse suggested we contact the charity again."
Newlife fast-tracked their application and they will soon be taking delivery of the buggy they need – when they really need it.
Rosie said: "We like Alfie to be able to experience as much of life as possible and this new buggy will enable us to do a lot more – and a lot more easily. We are so grateful for all the help we continue to receive to enable Alfie to do this."
Newlife is currently working with another five families in Devon, with equipment needs totalling £15,831.
The charity guarantees that 100 per cent of all monies donated or fundraised in Devon can be ring-fenced to specifically provide equipment for disabled and terminally ill children within the county.
If you think you could help, 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.
All support services are accessed via the Newlife Nurse Helpline – freephone 0800 902 0095 or email nurses@newlifecharity.co.uk.
