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Dear friends, thank you for taking the time to read this page about my precious grandson Joshua James Byers, or JJ, as he’s more affectionately known.
From the outside JJ appears to be a normal, happy young boy. He loves being cuddled, smiles and taps along when listening to music, sulks at taking a bath and is interested in everything around him. But he is so very different from other boys.
JJ, was born after a difficult pregnancy on the 4th July 14, with the rare condition of a laryngeal cleft, an airway condition that affects 1 child in every 20,000 births, graded 1 to 4 in severity. It was soon noted that JJ had a grade 4 defect with very real chance of imminent death. Many children like him simply drown on their own secretions before the condition is recognised. Indeed JJ’s parents, Kay and Chris, have been told that if JJ where to continue without surgery, “his condition is incompatible with life.”
Since birth JJ has been cared for by the excellent paediatric intensive care teams in Edinburgh, Scotland who recognised his condition early and have allowed him to survive for the past 11 weeks. After much investigation, research, application and clinical debate, JJ and his family have now secured a chance of having a real future together by travelling to Cincinnati for pioneering but difficult surgery to reconstruct his airways. He is an astonishing young man who has shown such spirit to defy the odds and remain healthy enough to take this surgery as his only chance at life.
Whilst the surgery for Joshua in the USA has been supported by the health service, the overseas living expenses for the family to be at JJ’s bedside during this difficult time still need to be financed.
Day to day expenses of accommodation, travel to the hospital, food and drink need to be paid, in addition to the routine costs associated with caring for a young child such as diapers, creams and clothing, etc. etc. It all adds up and we have no firm idea when JJ may be ready to travel home.
And that, my dear friends, is why I make this appeal to you to do two things:
Firstly, please share this message with your friends and tell them JJ’s remarkable story.
Secondly, please give what you can to allow Joshua’s family to be at his bedside and help them share whatever precious moments together his surgery may afford them.
It doesn’t have to be much, perhaps the price of your morning coffee or an afternoon treat and any funds left on return to Scotland would be donated directly to Edinburgh Sick Children’s Hospital to help fund the excellent care they provide.
In addition Joshua has become quite an interest in medical circles. Surgeons are keen to learn more about the condition from him and improve techniques to allow better surgical care for other children in the future. Your kindness in making a donation will go some way to help to make that happen.
Thank you for your kindness. Your help and support for our continued care of this precious boy is really, very much appreciated.
From the outside JJ appears to be a normal, happy young boy. He loves being cuddled, smiles and taps along when listening to music, sulks at taking a bath and is interested in everything around him. But he is so very different from other boys.
JJ, was born after a difficult pregnancy on the 4th July 14, with the rare condition of a laryngeal cleft, an airway condition that affects 1 child in every 20,000 births, graded 1 to 4 in severity. It was soon noted that JJ had a grade 4 defect with very real chance of imminent death. Many children like him simply drown on their own secretions before the condition is recognised. Indeed JJ’s parents, Kay and Chris, have been told that if JJ where to continue without surgery, “his condition is incompatible with life.”
Since birth JJ has been cared for by the excellent paediatric intensive care teams in Edinburgh, Scotland who recognised his condition early and have allowed him to survive for the past 11 weeks. After much investigation, research, application and clinical debate, JJ and his family have now secured a chance of having a real future together by travelling to Cincinnati for pioneering but difficult surgery to reconstruct his airways. He is an astonishing young man who has shown such spirit to defy the odds and remain healthy enough to take this surgery as his only chance at life.
Whilst the surgery for Joshua in the USA has been supported by the health service, the overseas living expenses for the family to be at JJ’s bedside during this difficult time still need to be financed.
Day to day expenses of accommodation, travel to the hospital, food and drink need to be paid, in addition to the routine costs associated with caring for a young child such as diapers, creams and clothing, etc. etc. It all adds up and we have no firm idea when JJ may be ready to travel home.
And that, my dear friends, is why I make this appeal to you to do two things:
Firstly, please share this message with your friends and tell them JJ’s remarkable story.
Secondly, please give what you can to allow Joshua’s family to be at his bedside and help them share whatever precious moments together his surgery may afford them.
It doesn’t have to be much, perhaps the price of your morning coffee or an afternoon treat and any funds left on return to Scotland would be donated directly to Edinburgh Sick Children’s Hospital to help fund the excellent care they provide.
In addition Joshua has become quite an interest in medical circles. Surgeons are keen to learn more about the condition from him and improve techniques to allow better surgical care for other children in the future. Your kindness in making a donation will go some way to help to make that happen.
Thank you for your kindness. Your help and support for our continued care of this precious boy is really, very much appreciated.
Organizer
Paul Burnett
Organizer