Please can you help us to help Stephen, four

The lovely little family of four children who came into our care at Happy House in April is happy and settled.

The older brothers Emmanuel and Stephen are enjoying school and speaking English, having only known their tribal tongue when they arrived. Meanwhile their twin sisters, Precious and Patience, revel in being the centre of attention - all the kids love having babies around! 

Social services deemed children to be in need of care after their mum died suddenly, leaving their dad, traumatised by his loss, struggling to meet their every day needs, especially as his wife had been the family's main breadwinner while he relied on casual work when, and if, he could get it.

He is in touch regularly and visits pretty much every week. 

We have, however, some difficult news and are hoping that there may be people working in the medical profession who can help provide us with both information and advice on what treatment is needed and how best we can access it.

Stephen, four, has been diagnosed with the serious inherited health condition, Sickle Cell anaemia.

People with sickle cell disease produce unusually shaped red blood cells that can cause problems because they do not live as long as healthy blood cells and can block blood vessels. 

Sickle cell disease is a serious and lifelong health condition, although treatment can help manage many of the symptoms. This is our first experience of it and we are determined to ensure that we do the best that we can to minimise the impact that it has on Stephen's life. It does depend, of course, on how it will affect him over time. We also know, it is unlikely that any treatment will be free of charge and will be costly. 

We are appealing to you, our amazing friends, to help in any way that you can. 

By helping us to source expertise and, possibly, to donate towards treatment as and when it is needed. 

We have, in the past, moved mountains to get the best for any child in special need of help. An example is our David - we were told by specialists he'd never walk, never amount to anything. 

We knew differently, sourced all the information and help that we could and transformed him from a limp and floppy baby to a high-energy little boy - busy at school and in the centre of all the action on the sportsfield and the dancefloor. 

With your help we can make magic happen. Stephen needs us and we will not let him down.

If you can help please email our voluntary UK coordinator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.