A LITTLE boy who thought he would never be able to play out in his back garden has seen his wish come true.
Ethan Bird, six, suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, which confines him to a wheelchair.
The uneven surface of the grass in his garden means he can only sit near the doorway.
Most of the time, he plays car games on his Wii at his home in east Hull.
But now, thanks to generous Mail readers and his skydiving mum Lisa, a specially adapted swing has finally been installed in his garden.
Single mum Lisa Bird, 24, said: "His little face lit up when he got on it for the first time. He absolutely loved it. He didn't want to get off."
The swing cost about £900 and has been specially made for disabled children. The bottom of the swing has a large base, which Ethan can drive his wheelchair on to.
Lisa then attaches straps to hold Ethan and his chair in place.
Then, just like a normal swing, Lisa can push her son on it.
Lisa said: "He had lots of fun playing on it when it was set up.
"Now when it gets a bit warmer he will be able to play outside more.
"When I asked him what he thought he said 'it is better than going to East Park'."
Last year, after the Mail featured Ethan's story, cash donations were sent in to the Mail.
Included was an envelope containing £500.
Together with a sponsored skydive Lisa and her friends did last year, £2,300 was raised.
About £900 was spent on the swing while £500 has paid for a seesaw – which is being delivered to their home later in the year.
The remaining money will be spent on decking and concrete for the garden so Ethan can use his electric wheelchair.
Lisa said: "At the end of October, he went into hospital for an operation and unfortunately didn't come out until Christmas Eve.
"He had some rods put in his spine to help his scoliosis (curvature of the spine), but, unfortunately, it looks like they haven't done what they were supposed to, so we're probably going to have to go back.
"But he got out in time for Christmas and in February we went to London for his sixth birthday.
"We did Madame Tussauds, a river cruise and the London Eye.
"Everything went perfectly in London and he had a great time."
But although belated, the best birthday present Ethan could have got is the swing.
Lisa said: "I just want to say a massive thank-you to everyone who donated and sponsored me and to Roy Heath, who put the equipment up for us.
"Without those people, Ethan wouldn't have been able to go on his swing and laugh and play like his friends. I'm so grateful."
• Gallery: Ethan Bird and his new swing in pictures
