Super Sonny - Sonny Days
Sonny is 5 years old. He was born with Spina Bifida, Hydrocephalus and Chiari II malformation which paralysed both of his vocal cords. He spent his first 8 months in Temple Street where a tracheostomy was placed to let Sonny breathe safely. Thankfully his tracheostomy was removed in 2018 and he has thrived since. Sonny has a Global Development Delay and an Intellectual Disability that was caused by contracting Meningitis at 3 months old. He cannot sit unaided and will never walk as he is paralysed from the belly button down. Despite all of this he is such a resilient, strong boy who is always smiling. We are very lucky to have him.
We have to adapt our home as soon as possible. Sonny is getting bigger and heavier. The house is not wheelchair accessible at all. Sonny can not get from room to room with the current layout. Our hope is to have his bedroom downstairs with a wet room and to make the whole ground floor accessible for Sonny. Sonny is a whizz in his manual wheelchair - but it takes a lot of his energy. He is training in a power chair but it will not be given to him until the house is adapted as it is too big to manoeuvre through the current house - and there is no where to store it m.
We want to stay in our home for lots of reasons but most of all because Baldoyle is the perfect place to raise a child like Sonny. Baldoyle loves Sonny and Sonny loves Baldoyle! People have been so kind and welcoming since Sonny came home. The whole area is wheelchair friendly including the bus routes. The local community have been amazing he has an incredible support system. Being born here has allowed him access to great resources. We have dedicated carers and nurses and great support from his local doctor and chemist. Sonny is so lucky to attend the CRC in Clontarf. We are 20 minutes from Temple St if we ever need them.
Sonny will always be a wheelchair user, his condition will not change with time. There are ways to adapt our home so that it offers him an independent life. At the moment the house is restricting him and causing him to feel more disabled. In a place where he should be at his happiest he is becoming increasingly frustrated. We can fix this house so that Sonny is able-bodied at home, where he can live safely and reach his potential. 
