Family’s mission to help Milo and other ill children
WHEN Milo Browne is 10 on June 3 he will be, as far as his family and medics know, the only child with his rare, life-limiting illness to reach that milestone.
The North Shields lad was born with a condition so unique it is known only as M3BHA and there is no diagnosis. His parents Laura Davidson and Stephen Browne are going to celebrate his birthday with a special family fun day that they hope will raise money as they look to get an adapted caravan so children like Milo with complex medical needs can spend time away with their families more easily.
Stephen told The Journal how the family were desperate for any help they can get for Mission Milo as they look to raise the money needed for a caravan – especially as, with Milo’s condition deteriorating, they are in a sad race against time to manage it while he is still able to enjoy it.
Children with Milo’s condition are not expected to live to two years, so by closing in on his 10th birthday Milo has already defied all the odds.
He was born blind, and also suffers from conditions such as epilepsy. The family set up Mission Milo to raise awareness, funding and help to support others with similarly sick children.
“We didn’t think he would hit double figures in days, never mind years,” Stephen said. “We really want to make more people aware of the fundraising we’re doing. We are also raising funds for an adapted caravan.”
Stephen and Laura have been fundraising for years by selling home-made crafts at Tynemouth Station market, while they also make a habit of supporting local charities like St Oswin’s Hospice, and of delivering presents to children at the RVI at Christmas time. But with Milo’s health worsening they are focusing now on holding an event to mark his birthday at the Parks in North Shields on June 18.
Stephen said they hoped more local groups and businesses could be tempted to sign up for a stall to support Mission Milo. “I make the majority of the things we sell throughout the nights. When Milo is in hospital I sit and fold paper and that’s just something that helps when you’re stuck in that room. We donate everything we have over the years, and will always continue to do that. There’s nothing we can do for Milo, in many ways, so that what we do.
“What people who have their own daily complaints don’t understand is how it’s almost an SAS mission every time you want to go out of the door. We have a long, long checklist to tick off before we even leave the house.”
He said that one thing that was especially difficult was being unable to take proper family holidays, due to the difficulty of finding somewhere that was truly accessible for someone with Milo’s needs. Stephen explained that he and Laura have to take it in turns going away with their family, with one parent having to stay to look after Milo. A caravan with the muchneeded adaptations would change this.
Stephen said: “The whole point of the caravan would be to help to create memories for families where it might be their first family holiday, or it might be their own family holiday. We want Milo to see this caravan, but at the moment we are not near that [fundraising] target at all.
For us it’s about doing everything we can to get to that target as quickly as we can so there’s a chance Milo can see it.”
To help support Mission Milo’s campaign you can find out more at https://happeningnext.com/event/mission-milo-funday-eid3a08mrbnce, or donate to the family’s crowdfunding page, https:// www.gofundme.com/f/zumkpmission-milo.