NEEDS

Objective

To raise at least 250,000 (pounds) and invest the money in a trust fund for Podge which will generate an ongoing income. Some monies will be used to buy equipment that can make his life easier, to pay for care that the NHS - State & family are unable to provide. The rest will be put to work to generate an income that he and his family cannot, lifting him out of the poverty trap so that he can have a chance ... of a reasonable life.

Monies received will support Podge mainly in the following specific areas:

24 hours care

The pain and torment that this young lad has already been through would be enough to break the spirit of most, but not Podge. The most striking thing on meeting Podge is his positive calm outlook on life. He smiles while talking freely about the attack and declares confidently that he will one day fulfil his dream of practising kung fu again. After more than twenty operations Podge can be pleased with his progress, and he is. The spirit of this young man is an example to all of us who need to triumph over major set backs. Even so, this lad faces many more operations until he is into his twenties; he faces a heavily restricted life in constant pain.

Podge has used most of his body reserves up in his fight to survive. He is thin, jaundiced and tires easily. He walks slowly and uncertainly under the watchful eye of his devoted parents and five siblings. Many of Podge's favourite activities are now a struggle. A fishing fan, he no longer has the body strength to cast his line. He loved to run and cycle over the large field near his home but now he can barely walk. He has no stomach muscle with which to "sit up".With only one foot of bowel left to process whatever he eats, his diet is restricted. He also needs to stay close to the toilet, never leaving home for more than one hour. Many nights he calls his Mum with an electric doorbell wired into his room to help him go to the toilet or to change the bed if he's had an accident.

20 operations a year

The extent of burns to Podge's body become apparent when you realise that with so little "good" skin areas to get graphs from, the surgeons have even resorted to taking skin from his scalp! Most of Podge's body is still covered with artificial flesh & skin. After more than twenty operations Podge can be pleased with his progress and he is. The spirit of this young man is an example to all of us who need to triumph over major set backs.

Even so, this lad faces many more operations until he is into his twenties; he faces a heavily restricted life in constant pain. As we grow our skin grows with us, but not for Podge and he has much growing left to do. Even now, after only months since the accident, some areas of grafted skin are too tight. At the moment he cannot lift his neck up to a normal position, because one flap of skin is too tight. That means another operation to release it.

Home tuition

With no stomach muscles, his remaining one foot of bowel is unprotected. It is hard to imagine a school playground, however tolerant the staff and other students are, that would not contain untold dangers for Podge. It is unlikely that he will have the opportunity to return to school. The Educational Services can only provide the most basic of home tuition. We would aim for the trust fund to provide an income sufficient to pay for the additional tuition Podge requires to ensure this devastating attack does not leave him educationally as well as physically disabled. This cruel random attack is imposing limits on what he is physically capable of doing, but with your help the trust will ensure there are no limits on his education and where his sensitive creative mind might take him.

Specialist equipment

Try something. Lie down on the floor or your bed and then try and sit up without using your stomach muscles. Not easy is it? Well Podge has no stomach muscles at all thanks to the aftermath of the attack. An electric bed that he can control his own posture on would be a real lift as would an armchair with similar controls.

These are just some of the simple pieces of equipment that could transform Podge’s life right now and yet without your help are beyond his reach.

Dietary and bowel care

The damage to his bowel was so extensive that surgeons have had to remove all but one foot of intestine. This means he will need to eat carefully for the rest of his life and will struggle to control his bowel actions. He will also have to carefully protect his abdomen as it has lost all its muscle cover. Also, he cannot be too far from a toilet, maybe an hour at the most. Even during the night, he has an electric doorbell wired up close to his bed so he can call his Mum so she can take him to the toilet.

Maria, his Mum, has to be careful with what he eats as his digestive system can no longer cope with the variety of foods we all enjoy in our diet. Too much fruit, too much chocolate, too much oil or grease as in fish and chips, too much spice as in a Chinese meal, all these can upset the delicate balance of Podge's internal organs.

An income

His Dad, Arthur, is unable to work having developed a heart condition, only a pacemaker keeps him alive. Mum needs to be at home to care for Podge, his five siblings and her husband. This restricts their income to what the state gives in benefit. Podge has had his life stolen by a terrible act of vandalism. Things that are seen as "rights" for the rest of us, like going to school, going to the cinema with friends, eating curry, getting a job, going on holiday, are out of reach for him unless he gets the 24 hour medical care he needs and an income that can lift this family out of the poverty trap.

The NHS is doing a great job on the medical front. Podge's family will give him all the love any child could wish for, but unfortunately the State is not geared up to cope with this sort of human tragedy. The Local Council have been good enough to re-house them to give Podge a ground floor bedroom and toilet, but they struggle to survive financially on a week to week basis. Feeding and clothing a normal family of six would be hard enough, but with the significant demands made on the family budget since the vicious attack it brings an added intolerable pressure.

Home improvements

The Local Council where quick to re-house Podge in a house with some ground floor facilities but without wishing to be unkind to the Council, the facilities are not great. Podge's room is 6 feet by 8 feet. While there is a downstairs toilet, the bathroom is upstairs. Podge is a thin and emaciated 12-year old boy, even so, he is too heavy to lift up and down stairs on a frequent basis without strain. Bathroom facilities on the ground floor or a stair lift would transform his care routines.

Regular breaks for Mum

Caring for even one healthy child can wear out the patience and energy of a saint. Maria, Podge's Mum, cares for six children ranging from four years old to seventeen years old as well as Arthur, her husband, who has a heart condition and can no longer work. One of these six children is Podge. He needs constant care 24 hours a day. With the patience and energy of a saint, even Maria needs to be able to take a break, to recharge her batteries, to pop down the road and see a friend for a chat, to have a complete uninterrupted nights sleep. The trust with your help would aim to recruit appropriately skilled carers who could give Maria those breaks. And maybe enough to provide a holiday for the family every couple of years...

Your contributions to help towards Podge would be very much appreciated. You can do so now by visiting the Donate page.