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| Caernarfon Boy Travels to China for Operation |
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| Optic Nerve Hypoplasia | |||
| Thursday, 26 February 2009 15:09 | |||
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Source: Caernarf on Herald By Alex Hickey A DATE has been set to send a blind toddler to China for pioneering stem cell treatment which may partially restore his sight. Caernarfon boy Joshua Clark will fly out to Xiaoshan hospital, Hangzhou, with parents Joanna and Anthony and grandmother Gill Doughty, on April 29, for a course of treatments which have the potential to change all their lives for the better. Joshua was born with the condition optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) which has left him blind in both eyes. His family issued an appeal through the Herald for help to raise £40,000 to send him to China, for stem cell treatment which offers the hope that some of his sight will be partially restored. That appeal has captured the hearts and generosity of the people of his home town and beyond, and with the money still rolling in, £35,000 at the latest count, they have decided to book a flight of hope. Josh’s grandfather Kevin Doughty said: "The Chinese doctors have been reviewing the reports on Josh's condition supplied by specialists at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool. "They have subsequently agreed that Josh is sufficiently healthy to receive eight courses of stem cells, the maximum number possible, thus increasing his chances of achieving a successful outcome to the treatment. "However, it means that Josh will need to be in China for six weeks rather than the five weeks originally planned. Dates have now been confirmed so Josh will receive treatment at the Shenzhen Beike Biotechnology clinic at Zhejiang Xiaoshan hospital in Hangzhou city at the end of April, accompanied by his parents, Joanna and Anthony, and his grandmother, Gill." So far more than £35,000 has been raised, helped in part by big contributions last week, from the staff and students of Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen, who collected more than £1,200; staff and friends of Babs Gwyn and Tonemaster, who raised more than £1,100 through a sponsored walk. In addition £500 was raised at Siop Wayne and Pam's Chippy in Maesincla after local girls Catrin and Lowri Roberts, daughters of one of Josh's carers in Babinogion, performed a swimathon. Even after the Herald spoke to Josh’s family this week, Caernarfon man Steven Lloyd Jones, contacted the paper to say he, and four of his friends, had raised £700 by cycling from Llanbeblig Church to Beddgelert and back to Caernarfon via Tremadog. Josh’s mother Joanna Clark said: "We are continually amazed by people’s generosity. The family genuinely appreciate the effort being made on Josh’s behalf, not just by the people of Caernarfon and Gwynedd, but from across the country." Despite booking the flight, she urged people to carry on with their fundraising efforts to help the appeal reach the £40,000 mark. "I’m pretty sure we will get there (to the final total) but I just hope people keep doing what they can," she added. She also revealed that the one person at the centre of all this attention, remains oblivious to his popularity. "Josh hasn’t a clue about what is being done for him but we will be keeping all the cuttings so we can tell him all about it when he is older, or maybe he might even be able to see it himself after this operation."
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| Last Updated on Sunday, 01 March 2009 15:23 |