The mother of an Angus toddler who suffers from a rare physical condition has launched a £20,000 campaign to make his life better.
Three-year-old Blake McMillan from Carnoustie was born with MECP2 duplication syndrome which causes him mental and physical issues.
The youngster was placed on life support after being rushed to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh under police escort last month.
But, against all the odds, Blake fought back from the brink and mum Jenny now wants to make every second with her child count.
Inspired to live in the here and now, Jenny has launched a crowdfunding campaign to encourage people across Tayside and Fife to pledge cash or fundraise to help her make home a more comfortable and accessible place for Blake to be.
She told The Courier: “I was put off doing the necessary renovations before because we weren’t sure if Blake would live long enough to benefit from changes in the house.
“Blake was really unwell and we thought that we would lose him, but he’s come through it and fought against all the odds.
“We might have another year with Blake or we might have another 40.
“I want to focus on the here and now and the here and now is that Blake is with us.
“We have to live each day as it comes and I want Blake’s life to be full, comfortable and happy.”
Raising the funds would allow Jenny to have Blake sleep and live downstairs in an open plan environment meaning that she can spend more time with him.
Should the campaign be successful, the determined mum intends to build Blake a new bedroom and wetroom.
She will also take part in a range of fundraising efforts herself, with initiatives like a pop-up charity shop, a ladies lunch and fashion show planned.
Jenny explained: “Life at home is not easy for Blake.
“I want him to be more involved in general family life instead of him being stuck in one room.
“What we want to do is open up the house so I can always see him and he can always see me, enabling better communication and sensory stimuli.
“Blake comes with so much equipment, so having things like wider doorways and Blake’s bedroom downstairs would greatly improve our quality of life.”
To find out more about Jenny’s efforts and to make a donation visit the crowdfunding page.