MEMBERS of the public are being urged to dig deep and help a two-year-old boy, discharged from hospital last week, get a specialist chair at his home.

Benjamin Davey was born with severe and complex needs and has been in and out of hospital for much of the summer.

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children is looking for ‘local heroes’ to help provide a specialist comfortable chair, so he has somewhere safe to sit at home.

Already, the charity has raised more than £300 towards the cost of the specialist chair, known as a P-Pod chair, but still needs to find another £650.

Benjamin’s mum, Alexandra Davey, told the Courier: “Benjamin can’t relax on the sofa like the rest of the family, he would just fall off.

“He has high muscle tone and he tends to arch his back so his hips pop forward.

“The P-Pod offers all the support he needs, but is padded for comfort and has a five-point harness to keep him secure.

“This seating would mean he could actually spend more time with the family in the lounge.”

The youngster, who attends The Green Room at The Hub, at Sanderson’s Wynd, in Tranent, has microlissencephaly, which means his brain has failed to develop normally, as well as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, developmental delay and a visual impairment.

He needs to be posturally supported at all times and the only appropriate seating the family currently has is a rigid functional chair that is suitable for mealtimes.

Alexandra told the Courier the specialist P-Pod chair – based on a bean bag concept but with postural support – would give him a safe and comfortable place to sit and relax.

Additionally, it would allow him to be more involved with the family, including his two sisters, four-year-old Jackie and Caitlin, seven months.

The chair would be especially helpful when Benjamin, who got out of hospital last Wednesday, is recovering from illness at home and give him an alternative from being in bed, isolated from family life.

Alexandra, of Dunbar’s Back Road, added: “Benjamin has had recurrent bouts of pancreatitis over the summer, as well as chickenpox that completely floored him. He’s also had three respiratory infections and required intravenous feeds, oxygen and a blood transfusion.”

Newlife has helped provide specialist equipment for more than a dozen children in East Lothian at a cost of more than £28,000. The charity guarantees that 100 per cent of money donated in East Lothian will be used to help children with disabilities and terminal illness in the county, so any money raised surplus to Benjamin’s requirements will help other county children.

To help, go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk/eastlothian