Appeal to fund life-saving gear for children

Little Miracles, the charity which supports families with disabled children, additional needs and life limiting conditions, is trying to raise £3,000 to buy a defibrillator for their headquarters at The Spinney Centre in Hartwell Way, Ravensthorpe.

Michelle King, who set up the charity, said: “In the past year we have had six or seven children fall unconscious while they have been with us. The last boy we had to resuscitate ourselves, while the ambulance and air ambulance came. Thankfully the boy had come round by the time the ambulance arrived. But it could easily have ended very differently.

“It takes seven or eight minutes for an ambulance to get to us, and that could be crucial. The nearest defibrillators are either at the Bretton Centre or the hospital, which is too far to run.”

Samira Najim, mum of Alex (4), who collapsed while at Little Miracles last month, said: “A defibrillator is essential at Little Miracles. My son has stopped breathing on numerous occasions due to apnoea. His condition is so acute we struggle to go out anywhere. Little Miracles is the only place I can take him where we feel safe. This vital piece of equipment could save his life one day.”

Sky Disson mum of three year-old Lillie added: “A defibrillator at the Little Miracles centre would give me so much more confidence in taking Lillie to the centre. As she has had two cardiac arrests for no reason so we just don’t know when it will happen again which makes going out anywhere very difficult.”

While training will be given, Michelle said the kit would be available to be used by everyone in the community.

She said: “The equipment is very simple to use, and can talk people through how to use it, what settings to use and things like that. It makes everything really easy to use.

“There are a number of community groups who use the centre and people who live near-by, and they would have access to the machine.”

A crowdfunding page has been set up to try and raise the money - although if they don’t reach their £3,000 goal by September 7, they won’t get any of the pledges.

To help, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/defibrillator-for-little-miracles