Mum’s relief at care settlement for her little ‘superstar’
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A MUM has spoken of her relief after lawyers reached a settlement with Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust to help pay for specialist care for her “superstar” son who lives with cerebral palsy.
Zach Eagling, from Liversedge, had to be resuscitated when he was born in June, 2011.
But there were problems and delays in doing so and, shortly after being born, Zach was found to have suffered a brain tumour.
He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of three, a condition which affects his mobility and cognitive development. The nine-year-old also suffers from epilepsy.
Following his diagnosis, Zach’s mum Claire Keer turned to medical negligence experts to ask them to investigate the care provided to her son.
The trust responsible for his care, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT), did not accept liability for Zach’s injuries - but lawyers at Irwin Mitchell have now secured a settlement from the trust.
The money will enable Zach to access care, equipment, therapy and support for his education.
Claire, 38, and Zach have also recently moved into a new home which has been adapted to meet the youngster’s needs.
Claire said: “Zach is my little superstar. He never lets anything stop him from enjoying life and doing what he wants to do, and I couldn’t be more proud of him. From his charity activity to the campaign to stop online abuse he really puts his all into everything.
“We’re incredibly grateful for all the support we’ve had from everyone, and thanks to the settlement we are now looking to the future with relief and excitement. I’m so happy that I know Zach will be looked after.”
Rachelle Mahapatra, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Zach and Claire, said: “It’s been an absolute pleasure to get to know Zach and Claire over the past few years.
“They have both shown such courage throughout everything, and Zach is an inspiration to so many others out there who may struggle with daily tasks and face their own challenges.
“I am so pleased we have reached a settlement in the case, which will make sure that Zach has all the specialist care he needs for the rest of his life and gives Claire some assurance for her son’s future. When the time comes, it will also help him to live as independently as possible.”
Ellen Armistead, director of nursing at CHFT, said: “The settlement will ensure Zachary and his family receive support for all the ongoing care he needs. Everyone involved in his continuing care here at CHFT wish them well for the future.”
Last year, Zach was targeted by an army of online trolls as he took part in a 2.6km walking challenge and raised more than £20,000 for the Epilepsy Society. They cruely posted hundreds of GIFs with fast strobing images, designed to trigger epilepsy attacks, below the fundraising page which had been set up for the challenge.
Claire and Zach have since campaigned for the introduction of an online safety bill to toughen up the laws relating to online bullying. Claire has met with government representatives to discuss ‘Zach’s Law’ in the hope it could include measures which would see trolls abusing people online prosecuted.
“I really hope that this year we see proper action taken to tackle online abuse,” said Claire.
“It is too easy for people to post things online and get away with it when they would likely never do the same to your face in the street. We need to do more to protect each other and build a more respectful culture.”
Thanks to the settlement we are now looking to the future with relief and
excitement.