Joseph’s bowel reconstruction

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We fully understand that times are hard, (believe me!) but please read Josephs story.

Joseph is a happy 12 year old, loves footy (especially ‘his team’ Liverpool), school (to a point), his family and mates! I wish I could put my boys 12 years into a short paragraph filled with fun and laughter and being a child… but though we’ve tried our best to achieve that, it has been punctuated with surgeries, long hospital stays, and fear. (Please stick with us). X

Joseph was a gastroschisis baby, (born with his bowels outside his body), much of that bowel had to be removed before he was a day old and although he did well after the first year, he has struggled since he was 4, requiring total parenteral nutrition (fed through a central line) again at 5 years of age, and stomas being formed in a life saving surgery at 6.

He has continued to be fed via a central line (at extreme risk to his liver) ever since.

He began bowel reconstruction last November, when his stomas were reversed.

However, this surgery was unsuccessful and further surgery to correct it resulted in sepsis and, alas, no resolution to the risk and stress his body is under.

We have been offered a unique opportunity to travel to Florence, Italy, where a professor at the Meyer Childrens Hospital, specialising in bowel reconstruction, will undertake further surgery with Josephs amazing surgeon from Alder Hey, in the Hope of reconstructing his bowel to offer him a real option at a happy, fulfilled and independent future.

Without it, the next stage for our beautiful boy, would be a bowel and liver transplant, the outcome of which is very uncertain.

We are planning to go to Florence in January 2023, for his life changing surgery. In order for us to achieve this, we need to raise the funds necessary, I (mum) have taken an unpaid career break from my job as an Oncology nurse, and his daddy (who works for himself) will be coming with us initially with our other young son Tommy. The surgery itself will cost 15,000 euros (around £13,000) thanks to the generosity of the surgeons involved who have waived their fee and we will be going with him with all the costs that go with that.

We need to find the money for this to happen, we fully understand that times are hard, and will appreciate every penny raised, because every penny will count.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, like every story, it’s convoluted, even if you can’t afford to donate we are so grateful that you cared enough to read through to the end. God Bless

Thank you so much to every single person who has helped us achieve our target goal. We will be forever grateful.

I just want to reassure everyone that any additional funds that are donated will be kept In a kitty for any unexpected costs or extended stays, which we cannot yet know, but every penny will go towards Joseph’s surgery. 

Any money we have left after Joseph’s home safe and sound, I promise faithfully 

will be paid forward and will find its way to another child in a similar position. Xxx