'Thank you for helping to bring Joel home for Christmas'
The true meaning of community and Christmas spirit has been shown in Castleford – helping to bring a seven-year-old boy home after spending months in hospital.
Earlier this year, Joel Randles-Morris, who has a rare type of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome, had a major seizure resulting in him being admitted to paediatric intensive care.
Since that day, Joel and his family have watched as the whole community answered their DIY SOS calls to help his rehabilitation and bring him home.
The family home was in need of renovating for Joel and the community didn’t hesitate to jump into action.
Businesses and trades people came forward offering their services and now, three months later, a new extension has been built ready for Joel to come home.
His auntie Charlotte Randles explained how Joel has spent months in a specialist rehabilitation hospital in Surrey, where he is responding well to treatment, with his parents Katie Randles and Mark Morris taking turns travelling home for work and being at Joel’s side.
"Joel was unable to come home until the house was drastically altered to accommodate him,” she said.
"The last time he was at home, he was a fun-loving, energetic, adventurous little climber, into everything like most children his age.
"But now, he needs a downstairs bedroom and a large wet room – enough space for him to move around in his wheelchair, a hoist and other specialist equipment.
"Of course, all this costs money. The hoist alone costs £11,000.”
Family and friends have been busy fundraising, organising many events to help raise funds with more than £10,000 raised so far.
"Obviously with Joel being in hospital since April, the family, especially his parents, have been struggling financially with the ever increasing pressures of making Joel's home safe for him to be discharged,” Charlotte said.
"Thankfully, we managed to rally local businesses to help.
"It amazing what the local community and surrounding areas will do to help people in need.
"Many trades have come together to build an amazing extension to the back of the family home, providing them with the space they need.
"The team of local joiners who work 14 hour shifts all weekend to get all the floors, doors and media wall finished and the amazing team at Alba Dewatering who lived in a Premier Inn for four months to make sure the build was finished in time to get Joel home for Christmas.
"It absolutely wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for them. And Adrian Bradley from Clearview New Build who gave all the bi-folding doors and installation, free of charge.
"It’s truly humbling to be part of."
Joel came home on December 18 and we had a lovely welcoming party with business owners, family and friends.
Joel’s mum, Katie and dad Mark, along with sister, Ava, said: “We are extremely grateful for the help and support from everyone involved in supporting us, raising funds for Joel’s therapy and equipment, building a new space where Joel can be involved in every day life.
"Their kindness and the love shown for Joel has been above and beyond anything we could imagine.
"Back in April, we didn’t think we would ever be able to bring Joel home. It was the most dire situation – but the support from beginning to end has kept us going and helped us stay strong for Joel as everything else was being taken care of.
"We are eternally grateful and no words can really thank people enough.”
"We want to thank each and every person who has helped and is still helping Joel,” Charlotte added.
"We want to give a bit shoutout to the local community for their continued support.
"We hope it also raises awareness of our plight. We want to highlight the lack of help available for parents in this position."
To donate to Joel’s Gofundme page, visit: https://tinyurl.com/3kydr5c8
The family are so thankful to all the local trades and businesses who ‘went above and beyond’ on the build:
Glyn Whitlam’s Alba Dewatering, who coordinated and worked on the build for nearly four months
Martin Towey (PJ Towey)
Bob Hardy, architect
Phil Roberts (EFEnergy)
Ian, building control at Wakefield Council
Darren (Belmont Joinery)
Richard, roofing, tiling
Kez, steel work
Brian Sharkey (OneBore)
Tim, Dean, Paul and Jamie (plasterers)
Alex (TT Tiling)
Joe J Bee Joinery, Jimmy, Joe and Spud
Patrick and Martin (Kavanagh’s Resurfacing)
Mick, David, Adrian and all the staff (Clearview New Build)
Prism Care
Ian and Tom (Hutchinson Electrical)