I know there are many of you who follow us and will know out beautiful boy Lincoln but for those who don't Lincoln was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy when he was just 2 years old. Duchenne is a life limiting progressive muscle wasting disorder. In basic terms Lincoln's body produces little to no dystrophin, this is what protein needs to attach to within your muscle to help it repair and rebuild. This means that Lincoln's muscles are becoming weaker and more and more scarred as time goes on. Lincoln is now 11 years old and finding many things hard. He can no longer walk, stand or transfer and is now in what is known as the non ambulatory phase of Duchenne, he is completely reliant on his powered wheelchair or hoist to move about. His arms have also become weak and he uses robotic arms to assist with everyday tasks like eating so he can maintain some independence.

Duchenne does not run in either of our families. It was a random mutation that could literally happened to anyone. Along with Duchenne Lincoln has a long list of other underlying health conditions such as focal epilepsy, Adrenal insufficiency, Raynards. migraines, hyper-mobility and a Neuropathic Bladder and Bowel plus other things, but despite all the things he faces he is such a happy, loving and just wonderful boy.

We are raising money this time to build a garden room housing a hot tub with a hoist, to enable Lincoln to have hydrotherapy at home. Hydrotherapy is so vital in helping keep his muscles moving. Where things are hard on land and he can’t move in the water he can. He has freedom and enjoys how calming the warm water is on his muscles giving him a good stretch. Currently we travel 50-60mins each way for his hydrotherapy and due to waiting list because of high demand and it being £80 a session we only access hydrotherapy once every two weeks which is simply not enough to see the real benefits hydrotherapy offers him.

I’m so grateful for the love and support shown to our family. Thank you so much to everyone for trying to help make this possible for Lincoln it’s so very appreciated.

The Stafford Family