Campaign to support Peterborough family as baby has brain op

Diagnosed with Sturge Weber syndrome, eight-month-old Oscar Wright has faced a difficult start to his life.

The rare condition which has caused multiple seizures for Oscar has meant long stays in Great Ormond Street Hospital.

As Oscar prepared for his brain surgery yesterday (June 18) relatives, friends and even strangers came together to help the family in their time of need.

Due to COVID restrictions, sadly both parents Tim Wright (26) and Beth Rollings (22), Crowland, aren’t both able to be at his bedside when he is in intensive care.

Noticing the ‘extreme stress’ the new family were under, loved ones created a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs the family were facing.

Support grew overnight and ‘Oscar’s Army’ has raised over £2,500 so far to help with travel expenses, food, essentials and the rent and bills for the family.

The money was needed as the couple didn’t qualify for parent accommodation, despite living nearly three hours away from the hospital .

At times the couple were living apart for almost two weeks, while still trying to give Oscar the support he needed.

Doting nan Gemma Niemero said: “We are a huge support system for them but have found it extremely difficult not being able to be there in a way we want to be.

“We’ve been a massive part of Oscar’s life since day one. I can’t be the nanna that I want to be, but I can do something like this. He is the bravest boy I know.”

Not content with organisising fundraising, relatives also got together to give the family garden a makeover as Oscar had been allowed home for a precious few days before his surgery.

With some work and a few coats of paint, Oscar’s secret garden was born!

Gemma wanted to create space where the family and Oscar could enjoy the sunshine when he ‘is finally home for good’. With his surgery looming, Oscar now faces a huge fight and another lengthy stay in hospital.

To donate and help Oscar and his family visit: https://uk.gofundme.com/f/oscars-army