Special buggy gives baby Noah gift of mobility

As Amanda Kane and Robert Francey prepared for their young son Noah’s discharge from hospital, they realised that not all of the specialist equipment they will need to help care for him is available through local statutory services.

Noah has a number of conditions which affect his brain. Dandy Walker Syndrome affects the part which coordinates movement; lissencephaly is a rare neural condition which causes difficulty in swallowing and polymicrogyria can result in seizures. He uses oxygen regularly and requires suctioning to prevent him from choking.

Key to their being able to get Noah around and about with his older brother Lucas is a specialist buggy that will safely accommodate all his emergency equipment – oxygen cylinder, suction and feeding pumps and specialist monitor.

Noah’s occupational therapist advised the family to contact UK children’s disability charity Newlife Foundation for help to access this costly equipment.

Recognising the urgency of the situation, Newlife delivered the buggy to the Ulster Hospital in December so Noah has an alternative to being in bed and his parents can prepare for him going home.

Amanda said: “We are currently working with the hospital on a discharge plan for Noah; he will need quite a lot of care at home. Getting this buggy is important to us because there are none available through statutory services and we will need the specialist equipment if we want to take him out anywhere. It will enable us to do simple family things like take Noah and Lucas to the park.”

She added: “Having it in time for Christmas meant that we were able to take Noah for a walk around the hospital for a change of scenery. It was an alternative to him being in bed and meant we could spend time together as a family,”

Information on the charity at www.newlifecharity.co.uk