THE family of a boy with a rare genetic condition that has left him unable to walk or talk are fundraising to buy him a sensory garden.
Six-year-old Jack Christmas was diagnosed with Mowat-Wilson Syndrome in
He is one of only 171 children in the world known to have the condition.
His parents, Dawn and Tony, have spent months fundraising to provide Jack with a special sensory garden at their home at Gainford Grove, east Hull.
Mrs Christmas, 41, said: "Jack is very sensory. He touches everything; everything goes in his mouth.
"He just loves to be outside but, up until recently, we only had concrete in our garden and he couldn't play outside."
The family hope to raise £4,000 to create a sensory garden filled with equipment for Jack.
"We have already raised some money from a boxing event organised through Life For A Kid, which has enabled us to deck the area and put some artificial grass down," Mrs Christmas said.
"Jack loves it out here. He sits down and tries to call the birds as we have a bird box.
"He will even come out here when it is raining.
"We would love to raise a lot more to get him more equipment to help stimulate him."
Mr Christmas has already taken part in the Great North Run and is running the Bridlington Half Marathon on October 19.
Jack, a pupil at Tweendykes school, was diagnosed with Mowat-Wilson Syndrome just before his fourth birthday.
Mrs Christmas had a normal pregnancy and Jack appeared to be fine until he was four months old.
"Jack was hospitalised with a viral infection," Mrs Christmas said.
"We then noticed he had stopped doing things he should be and we knew something wasn't right.
"We kept pushing the doctors to find out what was wrong as he couldn't even sit up."
Jack's diagnosis finally came two years ago.
Mrs Christmas said: "We had mixed reactions – I think ignorance is bliss, whereas Tony wanted to know exactly what we were dealing with."
Jack is totally dependent on his parents to feed him, dress him and carry him.
Mrs Christmas said: "He is such a lovely little boy. He is so happy, placid and friendly.
"We focus on the things he can do and we just want him to be happy."
Anyone wishing to sponsor Mr Christmas can do so at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/tonychristmas
Donation took family plans one step closerDavid Freer recently donated £50 to Jack's sensory fund from his new charity Nice 2b Nice, which helps disadvantaged children and adults across the city.
The following items are still needed to complete Jack's sensory garden:
• canopy,
• wall mountable mirrors/wavy mirrors,
• mountable chalk board,
• tactile floor tiles,
• water feature,
• wind chimes,
• drainpipe drums,
• steel xylophone/horizontal chime panel,
• mirror chimes.
