BATTLING SUNDERLAND YOUNGSTER’S COURAGE RECOGNISED WITH CHRISTMAS GIFT
A brave youngster battling a rare form of epilepsy hasbeen chosen as a runnerup in this year’s Dear Santa Competition. Eight-year-old Lucas Winney, from Tudor Grove, has to cope with daily seizures after being diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS). The condition is a type of epilepsy with multiple different types of seizures. The youngster, who attends Sunningdale School, in Springwell, Sunderland, cannot speak or talk and has a mental age of just two. He wrote a letter to Santa explaining why he deserved a special present this year and as chosen as the runner- up in the annual competition. In his letter, he told Santa how he felt he deserved the prize for being a ‘brave little soldier’ for the way he copes with the condition each day. He said that he knows the staff at Sunderland Royal Hospital very well after spending a great deal of time there over the years. His bravery has seen him receive a £50 Argos voucher, courtesy of Stagecoach North East. His mum Sharon Winney, 44, is a full-time carer for Lucas – who also has a sister Leah Atkinson, 16. Sharon and his dad, Clive, 40, were delighted that their son had been recognised. Sharon said: “When he was a baby I was concerned because he couldn’t do half of the things that other children his age could do. “He was finally diagnosed with the condition back in May 2015 at Great Ormond Street Hospital when we were trying to see if he could take part in a trial there. But he had been dealing with the condition since he was just nine months old. “He had his first seizure when he was just one year old and since then we have been in and out of hospital. “Every day is different and he has good days and bad days. “He has spent months in hospital and has a seizure most days, which can last anything from one minute to 15 minutes. “He is incredibly brave.”