10-year-old Charlie Collins from Nuneaton who has additional needs, has been gifted a Tomcat specialist trike from children’s charity, Simon’s Heroes, which will enable him to take part in family outdoor activities.
Charlie was delivered by emergency caesarean at 30 weeks weighing just 2lb 10oz, due to complications in the womb. His lungs had stopped developing at 26 weeks and he required high frequency ventilation for 21 days when he was born. He was oxygen dependent for 2 years, which caused chronic lung disease, he also endured a pulmonary haemorrhage, cardiac arrest and a collapsed lung.
“He spent 83 days on the neonatal unit before we could finally bring him home,” his mum Lucy explained. “He was given a 5% chance of survival and on 4 occasions we were told to say our goodbyes to him.
“Prematurity also caused development delay, low muscle tone, which means Charlie cannot walk very far without discomfort or becoming fatigued, and an enamel defect as he was born too early for his body to produce the enamel his teeth would need. Charlie also suffers from autism because of a genetic mutation in his CHD8 gene and is registered as partially sighted.
“Charlie was gifted a specialist trike from The Snowball Trust when he was 6 which he has now outgrown. The use of a trike has given Charlie the ability to enjoy a bike ride with us as a family and days out together even when he is tired, in pain or stimming, as we can switch off the pedals and push him around. He will never be able to ride a standard bike due to his additional needs.
“We were thrilled when Simon’s Heroes granted our wish for a larger trike which will last Charlie his entire life. It will allow us to continue our much-loved family days out and give him more independence when he is older. We can take him out safely and securely. The trike also provides a form of physiotherapy for Charlie, which helps to strengthen his leg muscles.
“Simon’s Heroes are an amazing group of people, we will be forever grateful to them for making our gorgeous little boy’s life easier and more fun.”
Author: C Abbott.
