C/O 48 King George Square
Kirk Sandall
Doncaster
South Yorkshire
DN3 1PQ
United Kingdom

NB: this is a forwarding address for the Pal, we do NOT disclose home addresses

Email Pal

Aaron F's Parents/Guardians

Joanne and Lee

Aaron F's Siblings

Matthew 18/02/05 Likes swimming, books, Toy Story, football and Liverpool FC.

Aaron F's Interests

Touchy feely books, noisy books or musical things, being around other children, watching TV (especially Teletubbies and Mickey Mouse). Aaron also enjoys listening to all types of music, splashing around in the bath, swimming, being at the seaside and feeding the ducks.

Aaron F's Favourite Colour

none

Is Aaron F able to read?

No

Is Aaron F able to use hands?

No

Is Aaron F visually/hearing impaired?

Yes

Does Aaron F suffer from any developmental delay?

Yes

Does Aaron have vision problems?

Wears glasses due to squint and astigmatism.

Does Aaron have developmental delay?

Aaron cannot sit, crawl, walk or talk.

Story written 2011

Aaron was born at 39 weeks on the 27th March 2000. He weighed in at 5lb 12oz and he was so little he could fit into his Daddy’s hand. He struggled at first and the doctors had to give him oxygen to help bring him round a little, as he was very drowsy.

When he was born the doctors noticed that Aaron had undescended testes, which can be quite common in boys, but they could not be felt higher up at all. They decided that a hormone test and a chromosome test should be done to see what was causing the problem. After an agonising 2 week wait for the result, the hormone test came back normal but the chromosome one came back abnormal. It was explained to us that Aaron had a re-arrangement of his chromosomes, he had too much of number 14 chromosome and not enough 18 chromosome, but as it was such a small amount they didn’t know how it would affect Aaron. The Doctors had not seen this before so did not know what the future held.

Aaron didn’t like being fed and because of a very high palette he had trouble eating and swallowing. After battling for 7 years Aaron had a gastrostomy fitted. This was the best thing we’ve ever done as before he was so fragile but after the gastrostomy he put on weight and got heavier and stronger.

Aaron suffers badly during the winter months and often ends up in hospital where he is well known. At one point he was going into hospital every six months but now it is just once a year. Aaron will start off with a slight cold but this will get worse and turn into pneumonia requiring IV antibiotics, IV fluids, oxygen and nebulisers and a week in hospital. He does suffer with asthma but this is controlled with inhalers.

Aaron also has cerebral palsy. He is unable to sit unaided and is wheelchair bound. He does love to lie on the floor though. Aaron is a very happy boy and loves to interact with other children. Even though Aaron can’t speak he can make sounds. He can wrap anyone around his little finger and always gets his own way. He is such a loveable young man and loves his little brother jumping all over him.

In March 2010 Aaron underwent a fundoplication operation. He was not his happy self after and in July had to undergo another operation to loosen the tie off. He is now getting back to his happy self. He has been extremely brave and always comes out at the other end with a massive smile on his face – that’s why we all love him so much!

Update 23rd February 2012

Aaron has had some down times lately due to infections, stomach bugs etc, and we have recently been to Sheffield for sleep study results too. He has to have them repeated in the next couple of weeks due to lots of coughing during the night, so has been put on a 4 weeks course of antibiotics which has caused stomach upsets. He then has to be reviewed to see whether he needs more antibiotics or whether the cough has subsided. At the moment the cough is still there but seems slightly better.

Before Christmas he had small operation to have botox injected into his salvia glands to help with choking, which has worked successfully. He did have a bad time in the operation due to sats dropping throughout the operation, but hopefully this will last another 6 months before having to go through it again.

Aaron has enjoyed receiving all your cards and postcards - as he has been quite unwell throughout this month with various bugs etc, the post has made him smile lots. Thank you. Aaron has loved receiving all your letters too and hearing all your news and what you are all getting up to. As he unable to read himself, every single letter gets read to him and he always smiles. They do really brighten up his day. Aaron has loved receiving all your gifts - from Mickey mouse stickers, to wall stickers for his bedroom, gelli-bath and upside down mirror which he loves looking at things upside down with!! He always has a smile when receiving gifts. A very big thank you to everyone who sends the boys post, you put a huge smile on both their faces.

Update 30th November 2011

Aaron has not had too many chest infections as yet, but as the cold weather approaches we’re just waiting for them to arrive. I’m hoping that he’s going to have a happy Christmas, as he has not had a very good one for the last 2 years and has ended up in hospital shortly afterwards.

In October he underwent surgery for Botox injected into salvia glands to help with his secretions. His oxygen levels were also dropping throughout the night, so while he was under anaesthetic they were going to do an endoscopy of his nose and throat to check his adenoids, to see if were obstructing his airway in any way. The surgeon did mention he would like to do an endoscopy while he is awake, but I don’t think that will happen, as no way can Aaron have it done while awake as he won’t keep still enough!! When he came out of theatre Aaron decided to have trouble breathing which scared not only us, but the surgeon and anaesthetist too. He was making a really funny noise and they first thought that his windpipe had collapsed and were all poised to intubate him, but luckily he decided to start behaving and didn’t need the tube down, to the relief of everybody!!

He recently had an appointment for his hips. We have been visiting clinic for a couple years now and his hips are getting worse as his right hip is displacing from the socket. He has been having x-rays on it for months now and the last time we went (3 months ago) there was talk that he will eventually need an operation to put it back into socket. This time at clinic, there was no change since the x-ray 3 months ago, so we’ve decided to leave alone at the moment and go back in 6 months. We’re dreading the day they say he has to have it done, as it doesn’t sound very nice, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

We have been to visit Santa a couple of times which Aaron just loves - think we've only got another 3 to see! Aaron loves going, he has the biggest smile!

Fingers crossed we have a good Christmas and Aaron's health lets him enjoy it for the first time in few years. We want to see those big smiles on Christmas day Aaron!!

I’d just like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for all the cards/postcards/letters and gifts that the boys receive, it really means so much to all of us. Thank you to all who send Aaron and Matthew cards/postcards and letters too. They love listening/reading what you all get up to, and where you've been on holidays etc. They really do mean a lot to us all and make the boys smile and feel special. Thank you also for the gifts received, they love the gifts that come, from balloons, drawing/writing things, puppet making, story books/musical books, it does brighten their day when they’re having a bit of a rough time. I think Post Pals is such a wonderful site, Viks and the team of volunteers deserve a special award as the dedication they put in is incredible.

Just one last thing - we wish you all a very HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

Update 9th August 2011

Aaron had a rough start at the beginning of the year and was very poorly with pneumonia, but he has now got over that. He's had a bad time since Christmas with bad chest infections/tummy bugs and he seems to just get over one thing then gets another.

We have enjoyed trying out a new bike which we hired from our local wood; it’s a bike where you wheel Aaron on to the front of the bike. He thought it was amazing as he loves going under trees and through the woods.

Aaron's recently had a hip appointment as his hip is starting to slip out of the joint. We were told at this appointment that it has got a lot worse over the past 6 months. We’ve got to go back in 3 months and if it’s still looking like it could slip out and cause dislocation then it will have to be operated on. We’re hoping it’s not too bad when go back but it’s not looking good.

Aaron's also had a sleep clinic appointment and an overnight study done. We’re still awaiting results but were told lots happened with him, so it’s looking like he may have sleep apnea, but it could be up to 4 weeks before results are totally in.

He's also got an appointment at Sheffield Children's hospital next week as he’s having trouble with secretions again and it is causing him to choke quite badly. It’s also upsetting his stomach, so is causing lots of retching with his gastostromy feeds. Hopefully he can have another dose of Botox in his salvia glands, as it helped when he had it 6 months ago.

He still manages to smile in between all this, especially when your letters / cards/ gifts arrive. Words cannot express what a wonderful thing Post Pals is and how wonderful people are. Aaron amazes us all where he finds his inner strength to keep smiling.

Aaron and Matthew love receiving post and hearing from you all and what you get up to. Sorry if we haven't written back but we are in the process of returning letters, they are a bit delayed at the moment with Aaron being poorly, but the letters always make the boys smile. Thank you to all who send Aaron and Matthew gifts too, as they love receiving them. The smiles on their faces when receiving any mail just makes our day, and of course the boys. We've enjoyed making solar systems, sock puppets, sticking stickers, Mickey Mouse glow in the dark stickers (which we are saving for Aaron when he has his bedroom decorated in Mickey Mouse). Post Pals is a wonderful thing, it’s so nice to know people care, and Viks and the team do a fantastic job.

Update 29th June 2011

Aaron had a bad start to the year. He was really poorly over Christmas and didn’t even open his presents until January as was just too poorly. He was admitted to hospital on New Years Day as his oxygen was in its low 70's. He had blood tests taken to find what was wrong and it was suspected that he had developed pneumonia. He was on iv antibiotics and was in hospital for just over a week. He is well known on the ward and all know his name.

It took him a while to get back to normal, as it always takes him a good month to completely recover.

We then had a good run with Aaron. When he was in hospital his oxygen levels kept dropping to low 40's at night, so we have now got to go into Sheffield hospital overnight for sleep apnea testing, which is happening on 2nd August.

In May we went to Mexico with Aaron's grandma and granddad. There were 11 of us altogether and we had a great time. We went on a pirate boat with Captain Jack Sparrow and Aaron was allowed on first to meet the pirates and have his picture taken. We also went swimming with the dolphins, which Aaron loved and he smiled the whole time.

Aaron suffered quite badly on the flight home as it was a night flight and he got a lot of cramp in his legs, but he finally fell asleep across me.

He went back to school then came down with a sickness bug, so had more time off school. He was just about to go back to school then he came down with a chest infection, so more antibiotics. Aaron was off school for about 2 1/2 weeks in total. He is now finally back to school and enjoying it.

When he is poorly your post just brings a smile to his face, he loves receiving all post. It is wonderful how you all send post to Aaron and Matthew also gets excited when he receives post – they can't wait to open it! I would like to thank everyone who sends Aaron and Matthew cards/postcards, as they love receiving them from all over the world. It does really brighten their day reading happy news about what you are all up to. The cards really do make them smile. Again, thank you to all who send Aaron and Matthew letters, they love reading all your stories and places you've been. They love receiving Dottie the Dalmatian stories too. Thank you to everyone who has also sent gifts, they love opening them, the excitement on their faces is indescribable. It’s lovely that Matthew gets gifts too as when his brother is having bad days and is poorly it makes him feel special. You don’t know what that means to us as a family.

Update 17th May 2011

Thank you to all for Aaron and Matthew’s lovely cards, letters and gifts, especially their Easter gifts, it really does brighten their day.

Update 31st March 2011

Thank you to everyone who sent Aaron cards, letters and birthday wishes, as really did make his birthday special. Aaron loved the pom pom – huge thank you!!

He is poorly at the minute with a sickness bug which hopefully won’t last long.

Update 27th March 2011

Thank you to everyone who has sent Aaron and his brother post. Thank you also for the birthday cards for Aaron, he’s had a fantastic day. He loved watching Disney on Ice at Sheffield.

Thank you again to everyone who made Aaron’s day very special.