A LITTLE boy who was born with a serious heart condition has been chosen to go on a dream holiday.
Ethan Lloyd, from Consett, County Durham, was born with a combination of complex congenital heart defects which has seen him undergo several palliative heart surgeries.
The anxiety that Ethan feels around hospital appointments and surgeries prompted his mother, Sam, to apply for a place on Caudwell Children’s annual Destination Dreams holiday to Disney World, in Florida.
The national charity provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families.
HOLIDAY: Ethan lloyd
The charity created Destination Dreams in 2007, to give 25 children, with life threatening illnesses, the opportunity to experience a ‘dream’ holiday.
Mrs Lloyd, 35, was delighted when Ethan, a pupil at Lanchester EP Primary School, was offered a place on the trip in December.
Now she wants to encourage others to donate to the charity in order to secure places for other children from the North-East on next year’s holiday.
Mrs Lloyd said: “It’s difficult to contemplate going on holiday as Ethan is often in and out of the children’s heart unit at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle.
“He also needs to undergo regular surgery until he is fully grown, so being too far away from his doctors feels a bit of a risk. Ordinarily we wouldn’t feel comfortable taking Ethan overseas.
“However, Destination Dreams is completely different as they take a team of paediatric doctors and nurses. The medical team is available 24/7, which gives families like ours real confidence.
“As a result of this care it costs the charity, on average, £10,000 to take each of the 25 families on this once-in-a-lifetime holiday.”
BROTHERS: Ethan Lloyd (left) with Joshua
The charity also provides a volunteer to help each family, and Mrs Lloyd believes that this will be a great help to her and her husband, Dean, aged 34.
She said: “I believe that the volunteers do the simple things like carry bags, push wheelchairs and buggies, and keep siblings entertained.
“It’s this kind of assistance that will allow us to move freely around the parks, enjoying ourselves as a family.”
Mr Lloyd said Ethan’s brother, Joshua, aged ten, will also get a lot out of the holiday.
He said: “It’s easy to forget how much he’s had to deal with when Ethan’s been in and out of hospital.
“Siblings of disabled children can often be overlooked, and I’m sure that Ethan’s complex condition has been stressful for him, so this holiday will also be great for Joshua, both physically and emotionally.”
So far, over 200 families have enjoyed the getaway, but Caudwell Children say that they need to raise more funds to ensure that others, like Ethan, continue to enjoy the experience.
Chief executive Trudi Beswick said: “By providing 24 hour professional medical provision and a team of volunteers, for the duration of the trip, Destination Dreams gives families the chance to create happy holiday memories, often for the first time.
“Unfortunately, the level of assistance that the families need doesn’t come cheap.”
To support the work of the charity help visit the website: justgiving.com/destinationdreams2016
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