UPON assuming the role of Launceston town mayor once again, Cllr Dave Gordon announced his chosen charity for the year would be a young boy from the town who has complex needs and requires a new specially adapted bed.

The aim for the year is to raise around £4,000 to provide two-year-old Freddy with a specialised bed which will help as his needs constantly change.

Freddy and his twin brother Bobby suffered from twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). This caused an uneven blood flow between the twins, with Bobby receiving more nutrients and fluid. Bobby, the recipient twin, grew too big whilst Freddy, the donor twin, grew too slowly. The boys were born in May 2017 by caesarean but sadly Bobby was born sleeping.

Their parents, Rebecca Jefferies and Andrew Jackson, set up ‘Bobby’s Little Angels’ in memory of their son and have worked hard to provide special packs, which are delivered to the Snowdrop Suite at Derriford where the boys were born, to parents who have lost a baby or babies from a multiple pregnancy. The memory boxes contain keyrings, hand and foot print making kits, ‘Bobby’s Bears’ which are made by one of the family’s neighbours and a ‘hand in heart’ which Rebecca said was very important to them to have included.

Freddy and Bobby were born at 29 weeks and at the time Rebecca and Andrew were told it was unlikely Freddy would make the night. On day four they were told Freddy had a PVL brain bleed on both sides of his brain and again it was unlikely he would make it through. However, by day seven Freddy was taken off ventilation and although doctors said there wasn’t much hope he would be able to breathe by himself he did. Unfortunately a couple of days later his kidneys and liver started to shut down following an infection and it was touch and go.

Rebecca said: “Freddy has been diagnosed with cerebral palsey, cortical vision impairment, renal impairment, global development delay, oral aversion, sensory processing disorder and is peg fed. He was also starved of oxygen at birth. But he is doing amazing, he has his moments though — I think he is going through the terrible twos!”

Despite a difficult start, Freddy, who celebrated his second birthday on Friday, May 24, battled through and the family were delighted when he was finally able to come home. But, because of his complex conditions Freddy requires constant care and, although he currently has a bed which was kindly donated by another family, he is quickly outgrowing it.

Freddy’s parents have been in discussion with the NHS for the past year to source a new bed tailored to Freddy’s needs, but to no avail. The problem is, as Freddy was born in the Snowdrop Suite of Derriford Hospital, but lives across the Tamar in Cornwall, an agreement is yet to be reached as to which NHS governing body is responsible for supplying the equipment needed to make Freddy’s life easier. Rebecca said: “We are in discussions as to whether it is the Devon or Cornwall side that should fund a new bed — this has actually been going on for a year now.

“We were extremely lucky to have been given a bed by a family — and we can’t express how grateful we are to them for providing us with it — but it isn’t a proper bed, it is a hospital style bed that isn’t tailored to Freddy’s needs. He is growing and as he gets older his needs are constantly changing, like his feeding recently changed — we need something that can accommodate that!”

Rebecca added: “We want to say thank you to the mayor for his support, we are so grateful he got in touch and wants to support Freddy. We also want to say thank you to everyone else who supports us.”

During the mayor choosing ceremony held on May 16, Cllr Gordon said: “One of the hardest things you have to decide on when you become mayor is to decide who you choose as the mayor’s charity.

“There are, I am sure, as there are in all towns, many groups and organisations worthy of financial support, this year has been no different.

“Only a few weeks ago I was struggling to decide as to who would be the recipient of this year’s mayor’s charity, that was until I was put in contact with a very special family who has a lovely little two-year-old boy, who needs our community’s help. Within five minutes of meeting young Freddy, mum Rebecca, and dad Andy, the decision was made.

“This very special boy, who suffers with a number of serious medical issues, desperately needs a specialised bed to give him (and his family) a better quality of life.

“My fundraising attempt to get young Freddy his special bed starts today [May 16]. With the community’s help we need to raise some £4,000 for this special bed and throughout the year there will be a number of events held to help us hopefully reach our target.”

He added: “The bottom line is we are talking about a two-year-old boy who needs help, and I hope that as a community we can help Freddy and his family, because young Freddy deserves it.”