Pugh family from Totton ‘overwhelmed’ after son’s oxygen fundraiser hits target in 24 hours enabling trip to Disneyland

A FAMILY from the New Forest have been left overwhelmed after a fundraiser for their son’s oxygen while on a trip of a lifetime hit its target in just 24 hours.

Emma and Alex Pugh’s son Leon (6) was born with a heart condition which has resulted in numerous operations and hospital visits.

The couple, from Hounsdown, have been gifted a surprise trip to Disneyland, Paris, for Leon and his sister Ellie (10) from grandparents – their first time abroad as a family.

However, the trip was thrown into doubt when they learned they could not use his usual oxygen supply there.

They were told in December last year Leon had developed a rare complication, plastic bronchitis, two months after undergoing open heart surgery known as fontan.

The condition is so rare that none of the hospital’s cardiac consultants were aware of it, and Leon is thought to be one of the youngest UK fontan patients living with plastic bronchitis.

Emma explained: “Leon's conditions we are told are life-limiting and palliative.

“We currently have a good temporary balance of medication and daily care routines with night-time oxygen therapy which has helped his symptoms slightly.

“We know this can’t go on forever as his kidneys cannot sustain the meds for long periods. We are uncertain for what his next steps will be but we learn to live life in the now, making memories, spoiling him and his incredible sister to the best of our abilities.

“Leon has the biggest personality and is a very funny boy who lights up any room and makes us all laugh every single day. He absolutely loves computer games, YouTubers, animals, parks, dance music and just being a silly young man.”

She added: “We have been given a stunning opportunity to visit Disney, but we found we cannot use his usual oxygen supply due to the UK leaving the EU and contracts being stopped.”

The family were unable to get a delivery of oxygen from the NHS to France and to pay privately would cost around £300 per bottle, which lasts around eight hours.

For their stay it would cost around £1,200, but the family were advised it would be better to buy an oxygen concentrator, which filters air into purified oxygen. These cost more than £1,000.

Emma added: “Having his own oxygen concentrator means Leon can access oxygen whenever he needs to, inside or outside the UK, without bills to hire oxygen cylinders, feeding greedy medical companies.”

The family were “overwhelmed” to reach their target in just 24 hours, with funds now over £2,700.

Emma said: “We are so lucky to have the love and support of friends and family [and] we are taken aback at how quickly the Go Fund Me has become public.

“We are overwhelmed to have reached Leon’s oxygen concentrator goal in an amazing 24 hours – it means so much to us.”

Money left over will go towards Leon’s health insurance and general equipment for his needs. To donate www.gofundme.com/f/help-with-leons-oxygen-therapy