Deeside
Dragons star forward Jake Witkowski paid a very special visit to Alder Hey
Children’s Hospital in Liverpool to meet up with 16 month old Frankie Graham
and his father Dan.
Jake Witkowski with Frankie
at Alder Hey Hospital
(Photo by Dragons IHC)
Frankie
is bravely battling a microdeletion of multiple chromosomes and dystonic
cerebral palsy – the only known case in the world – and has had to spend 13
months of his short life so far in hospital undergoing countless tests and
medical procedures.
Kind
hearted American Jake presented his Moralee Cup Winners medal to Frankie and
spent quality time chatting with the family, sharing stories and, hopefully,
bringing a few smiles along the way.
Frankie’s
dad Dan said:
“I
just want to thank Jake and all the Dragons family for the support they’ve
shown over the last 16 months. Ice hockey has been my escape from the hospital
and the Dragons community is like a family, which makes me feel like I can just
be Dan and take a break away from all the medical parenting. The club is in an
amazing place and it is memories like this that make the club so special and
shows the love that the players and staff have for their fans.”
Shortly after he was born, Frankie suffered a bleed on the brain, a devastating event that changed the course of his life forever. This injury resulted in a diagnosis of dystonic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his muscle control, movement, and ability to do the things many children learn naturally.
Instead
of spending his first year learning to crawl, explore, and play, Frankie has
spent over 13 months out of his 15 months of his life in hospital. These months
have been filled with uncertainty, medical procedures, and countless
appointments and MDTs, but also with remarkable strength, determination, and
courage far beyond his years. Despite everything he has endured, Frankie
continues to smile, laugh, and show an incredible will to keep going.
Because
of his condition, Frankie requires specialised equipment and intensive therapy
to support his development. He needs a suitable wheelchair designed specifically
for his needs so he can sit comfortably, be supported safely, and experience
the world around him with greater independence. This does come at a cost of
around £5,000. Alongside this, regular physiotherapy is essential to help
manage his dystonia, improve his movement, prevent pain, and give him the best
chance to reach his full potential. Unfortunately, these vital supports come
with significant costs.
A
gofundme page has been set up for anybody who would like to help Frankie and
his family:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-frankie-to-access-vital-equipment-and-therapy
and you can follow Frankie’s progress via a special Facebook page called FrankiesJourney777 here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588337301166
