Charity helps brave boy stand tall

THIS brave little boy was facing major surgery - until a charity stepped in with a vital piece of equipment.

Bailey Jennings has cerebral palsy which affects the muscles of both legs and his right hand.

It means the three year old, who lives in Heald Green, Stockport, can’t sit up, crawl or stand.

Bailey’s health professionals told his mum Abigail Morrison that he needs to be strapped into a specialist standing frame to stretch his tight muscles and hips several hours a day.

Without it, he could end up needing painful surgery on his hips.

But the one he uses at nursery is too bulky to take home and he only attends 20 hours a week.

As the NHS doesn’t fund duplicate equipment, Abigail turned to Newlife, the Charity for Disabled children, for help.

They got Bailey back on his feet by providing him with the £1,180 frame.

Abigail said: “Bailey needs to stretch his muscles after nursery, weekends and holidays, otherwise they spasm painfully and become tight and rigid. This causes his hips to rotate out of place faster and speeds up the need for surgery to correct it.

“I was so relieved when the standing frame arrived from Newlife. I can already see that Bailey’s not in as much pain and finds it easier to use his hand.

“Bailey is so happy he can stand up, as he can do so much more. He plays games with his brother Caeden and sister Reyna and helps me bake in the kitchen too.”

Stephen Morgan, Newlife’s head of charity operations, said: “Most people don’t realise that standing frames are very bulky pieces of equipment which can’t be transported between school and home. As a result disabled children have limited access to what is vital equipment – so all their hard work goes to waste.

“Not only does the right equipment at the right time help combat pain and prevent conditions worsening – to the point where surgery is needed – it can also help disabled children experience more in life and achieve their full potential.

“It’s critical that local clinical commissioning groups and local authorities recognise the true level of need so they can plan and budget effectively so disabled children don’t have to go without.”