AN upper dale family whose little boy was left brain-damaged after being struck down with a mystery condition have taken delivery of a specialist bed thanks to the generosity of well-wishers.
Eight-year-old Josh Denton has received his new Oasis cot bed after a fundraising appeal reached its first milestone of £10,000.
Josh suffered a seizure in September 2012 which left him unable to walk or talk. He now requires round-the-clock care.
Last November, the Evergreen Primary School pupil faced the possibility of having to sleep on the floor after the NHS said his bed was unsafe.
His parents, Scott Denton and Joanna Hall, who are also mum and dad to six-year-old Mia, were told they must foot the bill for the new bed.
Well-wishers rallied to help raise £10,000 to cover the cost of the equipment.
Mr Denton said: “It is a big change for Josh. He is just getting used to it.
“From our view it is brilliant. It does not look the nicest of things to have in a bedroom but his safety is important and it is great for him.
“It is padded all the way round inside. He has not got the constant bruises on
the back of his legs now and there is no risk of him falling out.”
Josh was also the first child to benefit from The Bradley Lowery Foundation. The charity was set up in memory of six-year-old Bradley Lowery who died in July last year following a brave fight against a rare form of cancer known as neuroblastoma.
Bradley’s mum, Gemma, agreed to help Josh’s family raise a total of £30,000 and when the family had raised £5,000, the charity matched it so that the new bed could be ordered.
The new bed has bi-folding doors and locking handles. It also has a number of nursing bed features including electronic adjustments.
Although the overall fundraising goal has now been lowered to £20,000, the family is now preparing to raise another £10,000 to pay for Josh’s bedroom to be transformed into a sensory room.
Mr Denton said: “When the rest of the bedroom is completed it will be a great space for him.”
The sensory room will include padded walls and furniture as well as a ball pool and an interactive floor projection system.
The family thanked everyone for their support so far.
Josh’s mum said: “The room will help to stimulate Josh. He gets frustrated and bored. He will have toys in here that he can do more with. We are overwhelmed by everyone’s support. People are so kind.”
To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/thebradleyloweryfoundation/joshuadenton.
