A six-year-old Fife autism sufferer and his family will soon have a much safer and calmer night’s sleep – with a little help from a Courier reader.
Lewis Justice, from Leven, has autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, is non-verbal and has no awareness of danger – all of which can trigger aggressive meltdowns where he will hit and kick walls and floors, and bang his head.
Lewis also struggles to sleep, leaving parents Natallie and Muir further worried for his safety through the night as he can roam their home unsupervised.
The Newlife charity for disabled children had stepped in to offer an emergency loan of specialist sleeping equipment called a SafeSpace, which is essentially a room within a room designed to have low sensory stimulation, and walls which are soft, strong and flexible.
However, the family and the charity issued an SOS earlier this year for funds to help purchase a permanent SafeSpace.
Thanks to that appeal, which appeared in The Courier last month, a mystery donor – who wishes to remain anonymous – has come forward with more than £5,000, and the family should take delivery of the life-changing equipment within a matter of weeks.
Dad Muir said the whole family was “so grateful” to those who donated money and personally wished to thank The Courier for its involvement.
Mum Natallie, who has sustained two broken ribs and concussion in the past, explained the need for the equipment.
She said: “Lewis is a lovely wee boy, but he likes to jump around and make a lot of noise – which we are aware the neighbours can hear.
“When he has a meltdown he can hit and kick the walls and floor, throw himself to the ground, head bang and throw things about, which can hurt himself and anyone nearby.
“He has two sisters, Harley, aged nine, and Kayla-Lee, aged four, and the younger one is quite fragile – I don’t want anything to happen to either of them or Lewis.”
“I try to go to him as soon as I hear him wake, but as I’m so tired from being up with him I worry I won’t always hear him and he will hurt himself.
“It has been a slow process to get him into the SafeSpace at night, but we are definitely making progress.
“He doesn’t normally cope well with change, but he is starting to realise what it is for and definitely enjoys being in there!”
