Family’s plight for brave boy

He's cheeky, mischievous, strong-willed and sometimes stubborn. He's also a very special young man.

Like any other five-year-old boy, Papamoa's James Reid loves anything with speed, watching DVDs and playing on his iPad.



Lily, 23 months, Sonja, James, 5, and Don Reid. Photo and video by Tracy Hardy.

'He loves music, loves going on rides that are fast,” says mum Sonja. 'He loves going to the beach, loves the waves. He goes horse riding with disabled.

'His horse's name is Honey and it's just awesome to see him up there on the horse.”

But James isn't the typical able-bodied boy. He suffers from spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy, epilepsy and hydrocephalus – or water on the brain.

It means James is unable to crawl, or stand without support – and can only take assisted steps with great difficulty.

Fighting back the tears, Sonja says her little boy has had a rough start to life.

He spent the first day of his life being airlifted from Tauranga Hospital to Waikato Hospital, where he stayed fighting for his life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for the next few days.

It's been 'bloody tough and challenging,” according to Sonja and Don, whose baby underwent brain surgery at just eight weeks old. But they'll do anything for their son.

'He's very unique,” says Sonja. 'We're doing as much as we can for him so he can grow into an awesome young man and be as independent as possible.”

Someone else who loves James dearly is his two-year-old sister Lily, who's helped her big brother learn how to interact with other children.

'It's quite cute actually,” says Sonja. 'She's very caring and quite nurturing of him.”

Unfortunately, Sonja and Don can't prove James' case is an ACC injury, meaning other than the standard care all other therapy costs have to be privately funded by the family.

Wanting the best care for their son, James' parents are exploring therapies and surgeries in the United States and Europe to help with his high spasticity – options only available outside of NZ.

It could cost the family about $150,000, which they're seeking the community's help in raising.

Don's also swimming 12.3km from Motiti Island to Maketu on January 31 to help raise more funds. To donate, visit www.givealittle.co.nz/cause/TeamJames
and follow his Facebook page Team James - Whatever It Takes

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1 comment

Poor kid

Posted on 21-12-2014 10:25 | By Erik

My heart goes out to you guys, James is a real fighter! Having to cope with all that and having all those conditions AND having brain surgery at 8 weeks old, that is pretty extreme! But good on Lliy for helping him out with interacting with other kids! A true sister!


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