George is aged 14 from Kelso. He cannot be discharged from hospital in Edinburgh until alterations are made to his home in Kelso with the installation of a stair lift and alterations to the family bathroom. George would also benefit greatly from a low energy wheelchair so that he can be more independent both in school and at home without being utterly exhausted and disheartened on a daily basis, negatively impacting his mental health and well-being. None of the above are available through the NHS without waiting 2 years, which is just not fair on George.

George continues to suffer from a number of chronic, incurable and life limiting conditions which he has been receiving treatment for since 2014.

These conditions negatively impact his mobility severely, meaning he needs support to complete any physical tasks. Since diagnosis he has also received further psychological assessment which revealed that he suffers from a range of Acquired Brain Injuries caused by a number of factors, his brain bleed and pressure build up due to hydrocephalus and shunt blockages, damage caused by chemotherapy treatment and also due to eleven surgeries to his brain during this time. He has also begun to suffer seizures as a result of his conditions which means he has to have one to one supervision at all times during day and night.

As he is the only person to suffer from his type of brain and spinal tumour, doctors closely monitor his condition and George is the subject of an ongoing international medical journal. He has many professionals and consultants worldwide who offer support. Due to the rare nature of the tumour and the fact it has regrown in various areas of his brain and spine, dangerously close to his spinal cord, his condition is incurable and inoperable and doctors are therefore unable to predict future outcomes for him.

In September 2022 George woke and was unable to stand or use his right leg. Before this he had always been able to walk on his own but was finding it more and more difficult. He has spent the past 6 months in Royal Hospital for Children and Young People in Edinburgh. Neurosurgeons and Oncologists found that a syrinx cyst had developed above and below his spinal tumour causing pressure on the nerves to his legs and lower body. George had a further 3 large spinal surgeries to prevent further damage to nerves further up his spine. He has now endured 19 operations in total.

George has suffered infections and allergic reactions to antibiotics. He has been working so hard in intensive physiotherapy to try to stand and walk unaided but to date he is now a full time wheelchair user and adjusting to a very different life. George has missed a huge amount of important schooling and life in general and needs personal and mobility equipment so he can live as independently as possible. He currently uses an NHS loan wheelchair, which is cumbersome, heavy and energy sapping.

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