The countdown to Oliver Bosch’s life-changing surgery begins this week as the youngster flies to Italy for a pioneering operation designed to let him hear for the first time.
The Charleston toddler’s family have been making last-minute preparations for the month-long trip, which has been paid for by a mammoth fundraising campaign.
Oliver’s mum Jemma (38) said: “My husband and I are a bit apprehensive at the moment, because it is major surgery at the end of the day.
“It has been quite hard-going organising all the wee bits and bobs that you forget you need for a baby, like nail clippers so he doesn’t scratch himself.
“I know it sounds silly, but I keep writing my list and it gets longer and longer.
“The main things that we needed done were the scans and the MRIs sent over to Italy. We had that done a few months ago and had them put onto a disc, so they have all the information there. A couple of weeks ago we had to get some up-to-date bloods done for Oliver, just so there were no surprises when we got there with his clotting.”
Oliver has Goldenhar syndrome, a condition affecting one in 500,000, and is unsuitable for a cochlear implant. A £60,000 fundraising drive has been under way since the summer to pay for the operation by leading surgeon Professor Vittorio Colletti.
Oliver’s implant will have no wires or batteries attached, making it much easier for him and his family to lead a normal life.
Jemma will be staying with Oliver for the whole month he is in Italy. Husband Ben will be there for the first 10 days, before returning towards the end of next month with Oliver’s big sister Darcey (5).
Jemma said: “Darcey wants his first word to be her name, I think that’s the most important thing right now. She thinks that when he is switched on he will hear everything immediately. We had to explain that it will be really gradual and she will have to speak really loudly.
“Darcey is excited, but she asked if Oliver would have a cut and we explained that he had to get his head shaved as his hair is getting quite thick now.
“She was a wee bit upset about that. By the time she comes out to see him at the end of March things won’t look so raw and his hair will have grown in a little bit.”
Earlier this month an anonymous £30,000 donation helped smash the family’s initial £60,000 fundraising target.
The appeal will continue after the family return from Italy, to help fund further specialist treatment.
Jemma said: “That was giving us sleepless nights, how we were going to raise the £15,000 that we needed when we returned. It was a great relief to get the £30,000, it was a huge thing not to worry about.”
Jemma said the family were already thinking about Oliver’s new life following his operation.
She said: “With Oliver just now, I could be hoovering around his cot and he will still be sound asleep.
“It’s going to be a big change because we have got so used to him being deaf and being able to carry on with our normal life around him.
“But, we won’t mind any of the changes at the end of the day because it will be the best thing for Oliver.”