A boy with a rare neurological condition has been gifted an £11,000 ‘bed of dreams’ after years sleeping on the floor.
Little John Luke Faulkner can’t speak or walk, has severe epilepsy an associated sleep disorder and needs around the clock care because of Angelman Syndrome.
In order to keep her little boy safe at night, his mum and legal firm PA Lisa Faulkner has spent the last four years lying on a mattress on the floor beside him at night.
That was until her colleagues at DWF Belfast found out, and the firm and its 95 staff decided to help her.
Through a mix of fundraising, private donations and a £4,000 grant from DWF Foundation through the Tree of Hope charity they finally raised enough for a bespoke bed that will change Lisa and John Luke’s lives.
“It really is a gamechanger for our family,” said Bangor woman Lisa.
“We’re totally overwhelmed by the support of my great friends at DWF - this will make a huge difference to our lives.
“Thanks to their efforts our family can look forward to a more normal night time routine.
“This is a bed like no other,” she added.
“We constantly need to oversee John Luke, but due to his epilepsy, the risks are much greater and getting him in and out of bed is a major issue.
“When John-Luke undergoes periods of epilepsy, he loses his truncal and neck support and cannot even sit or hold his head up.
“As the bed is enclosed and fully padded, it offers complete protection.
“It can be raised and lowered and includes a specialised lifting mechanism which is so much easier, both for John Luke and for my back.”
The bed, which was funded by £7,000 in donations, a table quiz and coffee morning fundraiser and a £4,000 grant has been specially designed so it can even accommodate John Luke’s feeding tubes.
Kirsty Mairs, Partner and Head of Hospitality at DWF visited Lisa at home to see the new bed for herself.
She said: “We can never under-estimate the value of a good night’s sleep and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to support Lisa and John Luke in this way.
“It’s good to know he will be safe and protected, and that his parents will have greater peace of mind.”
