SUPERJOSH founder Dawn Fidler brings you her latest blog

THE Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity is making a plea to the people of Salford, and the wider Greater Manchester area, to help the family of Lewis Pierce.

Lewis, aged 13, lives with his mum, Michelle, his dad, Matthew and his brother, Jack, in Salford.

In August last year, Lewis was stuck down by Febrile Infection-Related Epilepsy Syndrome (FIRES), a rare form of epilepsy. Since then he has been in the care of our friends at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

FIRES caused Lewis to have a number of seizures and the illness has also caused him to have what his still-puzzled medical team believe was a Stroke.

The stroke, which happened while Lewis was in intensive care, has left Lewis with severe cognitive disability.

It has also left him unable to come home. And that’s where we need your help.

In order for Lewis, who is a huge Manchester City fan, to come home and to be able to safely and easily be cared for in his own home by his family, their house needs some significant adaptations to cater for Lewis’ needs.

The Pierce family have already been advised of the Government’s Disabled Facilities Grants and are working with the providers to get the extension and adaption details agreed.

But the grant does not cover the full cost of the works needed and Lewis and his family need to find an additional £6,500 before the works can begin.

Lewis has been in hospital since August last year. That has meant Matthew and Michelle have been living a double-life for eight months, still caring for their other son, Jack at home, still going to work, but also living with Lewis at the Children’s Hospital.

The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity is kicking-off the fundraising with a £1,000 donation and is actively encouraging its supporters to get involved too!

You can get involved in two ways:

1 Simply make a donation at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SomeoneSpecial/helpLewis

2 Organise your own event to support Lewis — hold a coffee and cake morning, take on a challenge event, organise a dress down day at your work or school, do a sponsored event with your local sports club or pub.

Dawn Fidler, Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity Founder and mum, said: “As a parent of a child with a significant brain injury, I know all too well the pressures of life with a child in long-term hospital care. We need to get Lewis home for his own sake and for the sake of his other family members."

You can donate to The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity by simply texting SJBT13 followed by £1, £2, £5 or £10 to 70070