A brave five-year-old Luton boy received an extra special delivery – a specialist car seat – just in time for Christmas.
Muhammad Hamza Afzal has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and scoliosis and experiences seizures.
He can’t sit unaided and wears hand splints. The specialist equipment means he will no longer need an adult to sit beside him at all times in the family car, to keep him upright.
Mum Zobia Afzal said: “Muhammad has a lot of regular appointments – with the local hospital, his physiotherapist and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
“Until now we have been using a standard car seat, but he isn’t properly supported in it.
“He used to get agitated because he was so uncomfortable. Then a social worker at Muhammad’s school advised us to contact Newlife for help with funding specialist equipment.”
Newlife is the largest single provider of specialist car seats around the UK. Local authorities do not have a statutory obligation to supply this equipment; instead, families can apply for a medical exemption certificate which allows their children to be transported unsecured.
Zobia said: “Getting the new car seat in time for the Christmas holiday period was really helpful as we were visiting family around the county.”
n 2014 alone, the charity invested more than £39,000 in 23 Equipment Grants and two Equipment Loans to improve the daily lives of disabled youngsters in Bedfordshire.
To find out more call the Newlife Nurse Helpline on 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines) or email nurses@newlifecharity.co.uk.