Jackson Geddes is a 15 year old from Dumfries who, at six months old, was diagnosed with Wolf Hirschhorn Syndrome (WHS) and wasn’t expected to live beyond the age of two years old.
WHS is caused by a chromosome deletion and causes a vast range of health complications including heart defects, seizures, developmental delays and gastrointestinal problems – and as a result Jackson can no longer eat or drink and requires 24 hour care. Jackson’s determination and lust for life has saw him surpass that and all other expections given when he was a baby: He was never expected to walk, or talk, but does both – however his poor health has left him increasingly reliant on his wheelchair. He’s deteriorated quite significantly in the last 2 years and now requires urgent tests and scans at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, however the waiting lists for these are long and time’s running out for Jackson.
Jackson’s Fight was set up by a group of family friends to raise the £20,000 required to get him to GOSH privately so that he doesn’t haven’t to wait to be seen. Depending on the outcome and diagnosis based on these tests, Doctors may be able to identify ways in which Jackson’s quality of life can be improved for the better, and get him back to his old self.
Jackson’s parents told DGWGO:
“We have spoken to others with the same condition who have been diagnosed for 10 years, and still enjoying a good quality of life – but these tests need done for this to happen. We never wanted to go private with Jackson but the longer we leave this, the longer he suffers. Hearing your child ask ‘why don’t you make them help me’ are the most heartbreaking words in the world.”
A sponsored walk and Fun Day will take place at the Crichton Golf Club Dumfries on Sunday April 23, in aid of Jackson’s Fight. Sponsor forms are available from the Crichton Golf Club or simply donate to Jackson’s Fight via the Jakson’s Fight Justgiving page by Clicking HERE.
Jackson’s Fight Fun Day and Sponsored Walk – 23.04.17:
The fundraising efforts to get Jackson to Great Ormond Street Hospital for diagnostic tests and MRI scans; the Sponsored Walk and Fun Day will take place on Sunday from 10am, culminating in Arlene Patterson shaving her head to raise funds at the Crichton Golf Club.
Sponsored Walkers are asked to meet at the front of Crichton Hall for 10am prompt, with the fun Day kicking off at the Crichton Golf Club at 11.30am. Sponsored waxing, tombola, face painting and bingo are just some of the events going on and everyone is welcome.
The Jackson’s Fight Team told DGWGO:
‘We can’t thank all those who’ve donated already to Jackson’s Fight enough – we’ve raised over £4,000 in the space of a month – but we still have a long way to go to our £20,000 target, so please come along and join in the fun on Sunday. We’d also like to give our thanks to the many businesses and organisations who’ve supported us so far it’s been truly overwhelming and humbling to see the community pull together for an amazing young man’
