Tayside mum’s effort to help ill baby brother

Bid to cover family’s dayto-day costs as five-month-old Benjamin Evans faces weeks in hospital in Glasgow

A Tayside mother has launched a fundraising drive to help care for her sick baby brother.

Little Benjamin Evans was born seven weeks early in June, weighing just one and a half pounds.

Doctors had identified Benjamin as having Down’s syndrome prior to his birth, but after several weeks in hospital within an incubator, he was allowed to go home.

After five weeks as a “happy” baby, Benjamin suddenly became ill and was readmitted to hospital where doctors discovered two holes in his heart.

The five-month-old now requires surgery in Glasgow. With the youngster facing weeks in hospital, Lisa Rooney, 28, hopes to raise funds for her father and stepmother to travel to and from Glasgow, as well as pay for a hotel and day-to-day costs, through the Benjamin’s Fight Campaign.

Lisa’s stepmother will be able to stay in Glasgow’s Ronald McDonald House for parents living away from home with sick children, but her father will be forced to fend for himself.

She explained: “We are a really close family. We get through it, but it’s hard.

“I thought I would do what I can to help because I feel so helpless.

“Benjamin will be getting an operation in Glasgow. My dad will have to get a hotel plus travel and money for food.

“They just can’t afford it all. Benjamin could be in hospital for weeks, so it’s going to be expensive.

“The whole idea is to try to take some of the stress off them.

“They are so stressed with all that is going on.”

The family are currently awaiting a date for Benjamin’s admittance to hospital in Glasgow.

Despite his struggles, Lisa said: “Benjamin really is a happy baby. But he has a lot of pressure on his lungs, so he gets quite sore and uncomfortable.

“We’re currently waiting on a scan result.

“The hospital had wanted to leave the operation a bit longer, but because of the pressure on Benjamin’s lungs, they want to do it sooner. Hopefully people can help – it all adds up.”

The fundraising page is gofundme. com/94m2t-benjamins-fight.

Little Benjamin was born prematurely and has Down’s syndrome and two holes in his heart