Can you help send Owen to Florida?
A FUND-RAISING appeal has been launched to help a cerebral palsy sufferer's dream come true.
Eight-year-old Owen Rollason, from Bucknall, was diagnosed with the condition as a baby and is confined to a wheelchair.
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APPEAL: Owen Rollason with his mum Dawn and sister Jenny-Lee. Picture: Cara Edgington
His mother Dawn has been trying to arrange a trip to Florida for him for around two years, but is now looking for help from Sentinel readers to help make it a reality.
The Rollason family – also made up of dad Adam and 11-year-old Jenny-Lee – believe it will cost them £7,500 to make the journey.
They have already raised £4,000, but have hit a stumbling block in terms of getting more cash.
Dawn, aged 29, a carer for both her children, said: "We have done fun days, sponsored walks, all sorts but we have sort of hit a brick wall and don't know what else to do.
"Florida is the best place for dolphin therapy and the interaction between the child and the dolphin is supposed to stimulate the brain."
Owen needs round-the-clock care for his cerebral palsy, severe reflux and epilepsy.
His sister Jenny-Lee has battled a breathing condition since she was three, leaving her prone to infections and in need of a nebuliser.
While the getaway wouldn't mean a break from medication, Adam said that it could provide quality family time.
The 30-year-old milkman, said: "We don't get to spend much time together as a family. This would be time away without having to worry about things like hospital appointments."
Dawn, a former runner-up in the Adult Carer category in The Sentinel's Our Heroes awards, added: "The amount we need isn't for spending money, just the basic costs.
"We have had support and kind wishes from people in Stoke-on-Trent before and it is a really kind community.
"Whatever people can do to help would be very much appreciated.
"If it is giving donations that would be amazing, but even if they could help by holding an event that would be great. I'd help out however I could."
Ann Nethercott, a friend of Dawn's for around 10 years, aged 43, of Millward Road, Bucknall, said: "Owen is a delightful little boy, so happy.
"He would have the biggest grin on his face if he got to go swimming with dolphins."
The family have previously had help to adapt their car so it met Owen's needs and has also received help from Stoke-based charity Caudwell Children.
In return, Dawn and family have helped to give something back by hosting fund-raisers for the charity.
Anyone who can help is asked to call 07881 644877.
Comments
by dawn, Stoke on trent
Tuesday, December 29 2009, 8:09PM
“My son Owen is my little star. Owen is a little boy who was diagnosed with spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy he is now eight years old and is a worderful little boy. No matter what he goes through he is always a happy little boy. Owen about 3 years ago was also diagnosed with survere reflux and recently with survere eppillepsy but he never gives up. When he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy we got told he would never be able to talk, see or hear us but Owen fought to do these things and now has beaten the odds on all of these things. He cannot walk sit or crawl and is wheelchair bound, but he still is happy all the time and makes the most of every day. Owen has had many surgeries minor and extreme and always manages to bounce back he's my little hero. Recently he went through a major 7and a half hour operation to replace and rotate his hip they also cut all his ligaments and tendons in both legs and also broke all the bones in his lower limbs and replaced his hips with metal and added metal pins to his bones due to this he was in a full body cast for 18 weeks and in a tremendous amount of pain which no medication stopped this still is ongoing but he still is my happy little man and always makes me smile. After this he had a number of complications one being survere blood lose which with this we were so close to losing him but after his transfusion he started to slowly recover, I can't put into words the importance of giving blood to help children like owen so if you can please give blood as with your help you could save many lives. Owen also likes to help others he helps with charity work for caudwell children charity and tries to help me with certain tasks which are limited due to his disability, he's always thinking of others and never about himself my son is amazing he my little star.
Jenny-lee also suffers from arespiratory condition which causes her to catch infections easily. And has also had many operations. When her breathing gets really bad she has to take lots of medication and also has to have a nebulizer. She is a loving and caring little girl. Jenny-lee also helps with charity work for Caudwell children and is also in there charity Dvd.
Your our star hun.
Jenny-lee and Owen has also spent a lot of time in hospital due to there conditions and this is sometimes really hard on them both.
Owen & jenny-lee your both amazing keep it up.
Mummy and Daddy are so proud of you x x x x x x x x x
Please if anyone out there can help my kids dreams come true this would be the most amazing thing ever.”