The family and friends of Ralphie Ellard, aged 2, are hosting a “Rockin for Ralphie” music festival on Friday 10th November 2017 at the Ocean Room in Weymouth Pavilion. Tickets are priced at £12 and are available from the Weymouth Pavilion box office.
Ralphie was born two years ago with severe cerebral palsy and this affects his speech, muscle reactions, ability to walk and his ability to eat normally. Earlier this year Ralphie lost the ability to swallow food and is now fed through a nasal tube. At least 4 times a week Ralphie pulls this tube out of his nose and this is now leading to soreness and infection around his nasal passages. The consultants looking after Ralphie’s condition have now scheduled an operation for him on Monday 6th November to have a PEG fitted to his stomach. A PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy) is a way of introducing food, fluids and medicines directly into the stomach by passing a thin tube through the skin and into the stomach.
Sian Ellard, Ralphie’s Mum said “ This will make life so much better for Ralphie, he will be more comfortable and will be able to receive his food more easily. However this operation will mean even more expense as all of the restraints on his wheelchair, pushchair and car seat will now need to be replaced as they will now rub against the PEG across his waist. The operation will be carried out in Southampton so we will need to cover our own transport costs from Weymouth. The Rockin for Ralphie is vitally important to us to raise these much needed funds for Ralphie”.
If you would like to help please get in touch with Sian on 07713 811878
Donate at Raising for Ralphie https://just4children.org/children-helped2017/raising-for-ralphie/ Follow Ralphie’s story on Facebook : facebook.com/raisingforralphie
