A six-year-old boy from Warrington with cerebral palsy has been awarded a new wheelchair thanks to the support of Children Today.

Dominik was diagnosed with the chronic neuromuscular condition Spastic Diplegia Cerebral Palsy which means he has a significantly reduced range of movement due to the stiffness of his muscle tone. This also means he has posture problems and can sadly be in considerable pain with his muscles often going into spasm.

His old wheelchair was not providing the support required to hold him up, which could not only have been very dangerous but was also affecting Dominik’s psychological wellbeing. As the chair was not fitted to his body it was also uncomfortable for him, especially as he was often spending a few hours in the wheelchair every day.

Dominik’s Physiotherapist recommended the ‘Kudu’ manual wheelchair to provide the right fit and support and help improve his overall level of mobility. Adaptations on the wheelchair mean that Dominik’s head is supported when resting and it has extra straps to stop his lower limbs from strengthening during spasm, keeping him safe and secure.

Dominik’s dad Eli comments: “The wheelchair was going to cost over £2,500 which was way more than we would have been able to afford so we had to reach out to charities to see if there was any way we could get funding for the equipment Dominik so desperately needed.”

Eli applied to a number of charities and was awarded funding from the Chester-based charity Children Today and the Variety club, with the new wheelchair delivered earlier this year. Eli continues:

“I can’t explain just how positive an impact this wheelchair has made to Dominik’s life. He wasn’t comfortable in his old wheelchair and he would often bump his head when moving around. Now he’s a lot more stable as he’s fully supported so he’s not having to hold himself up so much, this means he’s a lot less tired and is able to sit for longer without being in pain. He can also focus on other things and be a lot more relaxed as he’s not worried about falling or slipping down.

“The wheelchair has also been great for his social wellbeing as he’s able to spend more time in school now and can even get his lunch in school for the first time which is great for him to be able to spend more time with his friends.”