A Mother and father have just discovered they are both a tissue match to donate a kidney to give their nine-year-old son a life-changing transplant.
Now they are racing to raise £10,000 to transform his bedroom into a hospital-style clinically clean room to guard against infections after his operation.
The sweet shop Sugacane in the Eagles Meadow shopping centre Wrexham is helping to promote the fund-raising campaign.
They are displaying details of the events to raise money for little Charlie Lewis, who was born with an extremely rare chromosonal disorder called Smiths Magenis Syndrome (SMS).
It means that Charlie who lives off Wheatsheaf Lane, Gwersyllt, was born with only one kidney, which has now gone into failure. He also has learning difficulties.
Amanda Beech of Sugacane, Charlie’s aunty, is helping publicise the Christmas Fayre and charity auction which are being organised by Amanda’s half-sister, Wrexham photographer Louise Wynne.
Charlie’s mum, Kimberley Lewis, explained: “Charlie was diagnosed at 10 months old. There was a failure to thrive and he was losing weight, not gaining. He also had no muscle tone.”
By the time he was two he was under the care of the specialist children’s hospital at Alder Hey in Liverpool.
With Charlie’s kidney going into failure, without a transplant he would face a lifetime on dialysis, extremely difficult because of his additional learning problems.
But Kimberley and husband Dave, who run their own cleaning business, have just been told (last week) that they are not only a blood match for a transplant but much more importantly they are both a tissue match.
Some further tests will decide which one will be a donor for the transplant operation which can now be done in Manchester in about six months – which is what it will take to get both recipient and donor ready.
Charlie, who attends mainstream Ysgol Bodhyfryd where he gets one-to-one attention, loves being at school and mixing with other children. But his condition unfortunately means Charlie is awake much of the night, and that is tough not just on his mum and dad, but brothers Jake, 12 and Sam, 13.
“Their sleep is extremely compromised,” said Kimberley, “which is why we are looking to make adaptations to his bedroom and create an en-suite.
“After the transplant everything will have to be clinically clean to avoid any possibility of him rejecting the new kidney.”
Amanda said: “Charlie is a lovely little boy, we all call him Charlie Bear because he loves cuddles. We want to raise awareness of a Christmas Fayre which is being organised to raise money for Charlie which will take place at Brynteg Memorial Hall in Quarry Road, Wrexham, on December 3 from 12-4pm.
“There’s also a charity auction on March 2 at the Brymbo Sports and Social Club starting at 7pm.”
Kevin Critchley, the Manager of Eagles Meadow,was touch by little Charlie’s plight.
He said: “As a parent and grand-parent myself, I can only imagine how tough life is for Charlie and the family.
“I am full of admiration for Charlie’s mum and dad and I wish them all the very best and hope that the fund-raising campaign achieves the target.”
Fund-raiser Louise Wynne, Dave’s step-daughter, can be contacted on 01978 754919 or 07525 157243, if anyone wants to help or donate. Dedicated donation websites are being arranged.
