Edward is almost 4, and was born at 28 weeks. He had a very traumatic start to his life and unfortunately suffered a burst lung. He was transferred to Derriford hospital a very poorly boy, and at a few days old I was told he had some changes to his brain called flares. These turned into cysts, which as they healed left voids in the white matter in his brain. This damage is irreversible and called Periventricular Leukomalacia.

As he got older, the damage became more apparent and he was missing a lot of his motor skills milestones. With regular Physiotherapy, Edward has begun to reach some of these but, he is still unable to walk or stand without assistance or equipment. He was diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy in August 2024.

We were fortunate enough to be told about Designability, a fabulous charity that provide powerchairs from the age of 18 months. Edward has been using his WizzyBug regularly for the last 2 years. It gave him a new perspective on the world, enabling him to explore it in his own terms. He can chase his friends, "run away" from Mummy and it really promotes his independence.

However, He is rapidly outgrowing the WizzyBug and his loan is due to come to an end soon. Just4Children are now embarking on raising funds for his next powerchair, called TinyTrax. This is an amazing powerchair, the lightest of its kind and is perfectly suited to Edward's growing needs as it can be adjusted until approximately the age of 10. TinyTrax will allow him to keep up with his friends, move around without adult help and live his life much more freely.

Edward has faced more challenges than most kids his age — but he has done it all with incredible determination and the biggest smile. Now, Edward is ready to explore more of the world around him. That is where TinyTrax, a powered off-road wheelchair, comes in. It will give him the freedom to move independently, play more fully, and chase every little adventure his imagination dreams up.

Thank you

John Edward on Facebook