LIFE has been made easier for a five-year-old boy with a rare genetic disorder.
A £10,000 donation from the WPH Charitable Trust has helped little William Lamont find more independence in his own home.
William, of Church Lawford, was around six weeks old when his parents Emma Hawkins and Paul Lamont started noticing problems with his development.
He spent the first year of his life being closely monitored by paediatricians, and shortly after his first birthday he was diagnosed with Kleefstra syndrome.
Characterised by intellectual disability, Kleefstra Syndrome has left William unable to speak or walk – instead, he shuffles around the house and uses a wheelchair when outside.
Despite his troubles, Emma said William values his independence.
So when they received the £10,000 windfall, William’s family were able to proceed with a new purpose-built £58,000 ground floor bedroom and adjoining wet room.
The couple received a £35,000 disability funding grant, on the condition they raised the remaining £23,000 themselves – so they made a series of applications to different bodies including the WPH Charitable Trust.
Emma said: “As William started to grow it became apparent our house wouldn’t be able to accommodate his needs for much longer. I was finding it more and more difficult to carry him up the stairs and even if I could have continued, it was still a danger to both William and me.”
The upgrades included an adjustable bed with a ramp, an adjustable sink with stand support, a hoist, a toilet chair fitted over his toilet, and a stretcher table over his bath.
Doorways throughout the house have been widened and the driveway and front door entrance have been bricked and levelled off.
Emma said: “These adaptations have made it so much easier for us in our daily lives. Daily tasks such as putting him to bed, giving him a bath and helping him around the house are now no longer any more of a struggle for us than they would be for any other family.
“We would like to thank the WPH Charitable Trust from the bottom of our hearts as this has enabled us to begin all of our lives.
“A lot of charities don’t give to individuals such as ourselves, they give to causes. But this has really allowed us to take control and has allowed William the independence he so values.”
The WPH Charitable Trust provides funding for groups and individuals who work to prevent, relieve and cure sickness in Coventry and Warwickshire. The Trust provides grants for medical research, buildings, equipment and other forms of medical care for residents of the region.
Visit www.warwickshirehealthcharity.org.uk for more information or to make an application. Alternatively, write to: Secretary to the WPH Charitable Trust, c/o Blythe Liggins, Edmund House, Rugby Road, Leamington Spa, CV32 6EL.
