Yahoo News 'My son is in so much pain - we can't even give him a cuddle'
A mum has described how she 'can't even give her son a cuddle' as he is in so much pain.
Joshua Cleaver was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) four years ago after a fall in his school playground, Birmingham Live reports. The 14-year-old now says the pain he suffers is 'too much to handle'.
His mum Lisa has been unable to hug him since the incident and said sometimes even just touching him would make him cry. Joshua's family and friends have now launched a plea to fund vital overseas treatment for him.
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CRPS is a 'poorly understood condition where a person experiences persistent severe and debilitating pain,' according to the NHS. The condition has no known cure, but treatment options are available at the Spero Clinic in Arkansas, at the cost of around £75,000.
Joshua's family hope he can get the treatment and 'get his life back'. On the family's fundraising page, the youngster, from Solihull, described the condition in his own words as he said he feels like he is 'missing out on growing up'.
Recalling his CRPS diagnosis, he wrote: "It was pain like no other I had felt before; it was a searing red-hot pain, right down my spine and all over my back. I just screamed and could not stop. It was agonising.
"We rushed to the hospital to see what was wrong. Four and a half years later I really struggle to do anything. The pain is just too much for me to handle - I get very little sleep, and all my life is consumed by pain.
"Some days I cannot do anything, I mean anything. I feel like I am missing out on growing up."
Mum Lisa added: "If I was to touch Joshua's hand, that would be enough to make him cry out in pain. The pain varies from day to day, but we haven't been able to give him a cuddle in four and a half years.
"The treatment available in the UK focuses primarily on pain management, rather than curing the condition itself. The Spero Clinic is the only place in the world offering this kind of treatment - people travel from across the world to get there.
"The pain is only getting worse, Joshua lives in agony every day - he can't carry on like this. Going to the Spero Clinic could change his life forever."
Various fundraisers have been organised to support Joshua. His father will be going down the fastest zipline in the world in Wales, as well as abseiling the 100-metre-tall Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.
Family friend and Lisa's former colleague, Lee Skinner, will also be taking on the Scottish Three Peaks to help fund Joshua's treatment. The family's local church has also donated £10,000 to his care.
"When it became clear there was this possibility of treatment," said He said. "I really wanted to step up and help however I could.
"Me and my son are taking on the Three Peaks Challenge to help raise some money for Joshua's treatment. Lisa was a great employee, and she's an outstanding mum to Joshua. We want Josh to be able to walk, run and do things we all take for granted."
To donate to the fundraiser, click here.
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