Brave boy making his dreams come true
A COURAGEOUS boy of eight with a rare muscle-wasting disease is determined to achieve his dreams before he loses the use of his legs.
Draven Jefferies has Duchenne muscular dystrophy which will soon confine him to a wheelchair and could claim his life.
But brave Draven has drawn up a “bucket list” of things he wants to do. He plans to swim with dolphins, go in a submarine and feed bears at a wildlife park.
Other must-dos include owning a fish, meeting lots of animals and going to Disneyland in Paris.
His parents Jemma Godden, 33, and Jason Jefferies, 37, are working against time to make sure as many of his dreams, based on his love of animals, come true.
Mr Jefferies, of Hawkinge, Kent, said: “There is no treatment for him – Duchenne muscular dystrophy is like a bad cherry on top of the things you don’t want. He’s never going to get better.
“It’s really hard because he knows his legs don’t work properly and he’s such a strong-minded child but he doesn’t know what’s wrong to the extent we do.”
Soon after Draven was born he spent eight months in intensive care, following an emergency operation for a severe problem with his oesophagus.
He also had a tethered spinal cord and lung problems.
Dad Jason said: “It’s like being an emotional hurdle race. There has never been good news and something new always ends up coming out.”
But friends have already rallied round to help.
Draven always wanted a bunk bed, so family friend Andy Bradley, a carpenter, made him one and Folkestone firefighters have donated mattresses.
Others have donated a day feeding bears at Port Lympne wildlife park in Kent, a visit from a meerkat handler and meeting his hero, motocross rider Shane Byrne.
Mum Gemma said: “Some of the things people have been prepared to donate has been incredible.
“We are going to Tenerife soon, where Draven will swim with dolphins – and a complete stranger also bought tickets for him to go on a submarine.”