Just4Children/Albie's aims for brighter future seek funds to help Albie access therapies, treatments, respite and equipment that he needs for a better quality of life. We are aiming for a Vanraam Fun2Go Bike.

Albie had a tragic start to life. At the time of his birth his mum, Claire, was unwell and she had a difficult labour. Hours after birth, Albie started to look ill and testing revealed he had contracted Meningitis. This illness caused him to have a stroke. On day three of his life, he was put on Life Support. Claire and his dad were told to prepare for the worst.

Fortunately, he survived but was left with severe disabilities due to the stroke which had damaged the left side of his brain. The right side of Albie’s body was affected, and he was left with cerebral palsy.

He soon started having severe seizures 24-7, the many medications he was put on failed to control them. The seizures and the meds made Albie a very sad little boy and he cried a lot. It was a frightening time for his parents as any seizure may have ended his life.

When Albie was 18-month-old he undertook a weeklong EEG at Great Ormond Street Hospital and the surgeons decided that he would be a good candidate for brain surgery. The surgeons suggested they separate the left side of Albie’s brain from the right side. This would be a very dangerous operation and Claire, now a single Mum had to take her time to consider the risks. She was very brave and decided that Albie needed this chance at a happier life.

The surgery was a success, he stopped having seizures. Unfortunately, later he developed fluid on the brain and in another operation, he had a VP shunt fitted which he lives with and we always on tender hooks for signs that it goes wrong, and he needs emergency brain surgery to be replaced.

Albie’s life from that point improved and he was taken off all the seizure medications, he started to become the happy boy he was meant to be, and his development started to take off. He wanted to learn to walk and talk, things Claire had only dreamt of before the operation. So, then the therapies started, and Claire put a lot of work and effort into these

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Equipment also had to be purchased including such things as a Standing Frame, Walkers, Weehoo, Adapted bike, Motability car and home adaptions.

Albie's Mum has also taken Albie to Riding for the Disabled (RDA)and Keen Social Sports Group. Many hours of blood sweat, and tears have gone into Albie’s rehabilitation.

Albie has learnt to say lots of words and his infectious laugh brightens up everyone’s day.

All of this comes at a great cost to Albie's Mum. She struggles to work, apply for grants and fundraise and do all she needs to do practically for Albie. To give some idea of costs :

Footsteps is £75 per hour. Albie has 3 x 3-week sessions over the year lasting 2 hours a day.

Early this year, he got a new Buddy Roamer Walker costing 5k, this was funded by Albie's Mum and 2 grants she managed to get. This year she has brought a new sling at £295, incontinent swim trunks at £60 and he wears specialist shoes to go over his leg splints, these cost between £80 and £300 per pair and brought twice a year due to growth.

A special bike for him in 2020 was around 3k (which I no longer can lift Albie onto so this is why looking to get Varaam Bike). These are sold as he grows out of them, and the funds used to buy new equipment.

Albie gets some help from NHS regards to therapy, but he needs extra input to give him the best chance to reach his potential.

With extra help he has so far achieved more than the doctors ever predicted. He wasn’t expected to live to over age 5!

Around age 8 Albie started to walk and was doing so well. He was due to have surgery on his hip and foot, but Covid delayed his surgery and his mobility decreased. Late 2020 sadly, he had to go back into a wheelchair. April 2021, he finally had the foot surgery.

He is a determined boy, but his mobility is taking longer to get back to where it was. Even with the extra Footstep therapy and the walker that wasobtained he is not making the progress she hoped. He still requires a lot of support and help with transfers and certain movements and as you can imagine at 11 years of age, he is very heavy. Albie will never live an independent life and will need 24-7 care for rest of his life.

Claire believes that a Vanraam bike would help Albie regain his strength as well give him the opportunity to enjoy what a typical boy would. For this, Claire needs to raise the hefty sum of £9867.81!!!

She will apply for grants and sell some of his old equipment but needs support in raising the rest of the monies.

This bike not only with help Albie to get stronger and develop physically but it will be good for his welfare and bring him joy. It will last him into adulthood so would be a good investment.

https://www.facebook.com/albie11logan/

See attached photos for Albie's instagram QR code.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/3bla00y3oPs