Darlington parents in desperate plea for son’s Panama treatment

Little Nathan Ward was diagnosed with severe brain damage and cerebral palsy at just four-months-old, having had a complicated birth at 32 weeks by emergency C-section, weighing just 3lb 2oz.

The Northern Echo previously reported the family needed to raise £20,000 to help get Nathan treatment in Panama, which they believe could be life-changing.

They have so far raised about £15,000 and booked their flights to Panama so need to raise the remaining £5,000 before they take off in just more than six weeks.

Leona said: “We are quite close to reaching our target. We have paid for the flights to Panama, on July 19, out of the money that we’ve already raised, so it is just the treatment to cover now.”

Leona said Nathan is a "smiling and happy" boy (Image: FAMILY)

Leona and husband Nathan said if the fundraiser does not reach its target, they will be forced to ask their families again to help fund it.

But the Wards said they are both “so grateful” to everyone who has read their story and donated to help their “smiling and happy” son.

Leona added: “Nathan did a skydive on Saturday and jumped from 14,000 feet to raise money. He was over the moon about that.

Nathan's dad, who is also called Nathan, recently completed a skydive to hep raise funds (Image: FAMILY)

“My mum, friends and family are also doing a 26-mile walk on Saturday, June 27 to raise more money.”

Nathan was diagnosed with severe brain damage and cerebral palsy at four-months-old, and his parents were told he may never walk or talk.

The 16-month-old then developed epilepsy and experienced more than 100 seizures a day.

At one point, he suffered 263 seizures in just half an hour.

Leona said: “It was absolutely terrifying, we just felt completely helpless. We were constantly riddled with anxiety and stress and just wanted to find something that would help him.”

Nathan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at just four-months-old (Image: FAMILY)

After researching online, the Wards discovered stem cell therapy in Panama as a possible treatment.

They were quoted around 15,000 US dollars (about £12,000) for the therapy at the Stem Cell Institute.

And Leona talked about the difficulty of raising funds for life-changing treatments either privately or in other countries.

Leona and Nathan thanked everyone who has already donated to help their son (Image: FAMILY)

“You think you’re never going to be able to do something like that,” she said.

“It is heartbreaking when you cannot access it. People do not have £15,000 sitting in the house.”

But she said they cannot thank everyone enough who has donated.

The Wards are close to their £20,000 target which would help get Nathan life-changing treatment in Panama (Image: FAMILY)

“It is just unbelievable. To be able to have this opportunity, thanks to all the donations, is amazing,” Leona added.

“We just want to say a huge thank you to everyone.”

You can donate to the Wards fundraiser for their son Nathan by visiting: gofundme.com/f/donate-to-help-get-us-to-panama-for-life-changing-treatment