Family of boy, 4, who 'won't live to his teens' trying to get him to Disneyland

12 January 2023 , 10:56

893     0

Declan McMaster-King, 4, has the terminal illness Batten Disease (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

The heartbroken family of a little boy not expected to live into his teens are raising funds to take him on a trip to Disneyland.

Declan McMaster-King, four, has been diagnosed with rare terminal illness known as Batten Disease which affects the nervous system and causes seizures, visual impairment and mobility loss.

Declan, from Gateshead, has already lost the use of his legs and is expected to eventually lose his sight.

His great-aunt Vicky King, 39, looks after him full-time with her partner Tony Anderson-Forbes, 45.

Vicky said she became concerned about Declan following his first day at school in January last year when his legs gave way on the way home but she put it down to exhaustion.

Woman livid as parents book Disney trip for birthday - just to please her sister

Vicky Young hugs little Declan in their home (Newcastle Chronicle)

Vicky told Chronicle Live: "It was heartbreaking to find out he had Batten Disease, I was absolutely devastated. They said he probably won't make it to his teens.

"I took him on to give him a better life and it just feels like from day one he's just had it really bad.

“It's hard because he doesn't understand. He doesn't speak and you can't explain anything to him.

“Four weeks after that I brought him home from school and he dropped in the kitchen. He had a seizure, his legs give way and his whole body started to shake. He continued to have really bad seizures after that."

Vicky is hoping to get Declan to Disneyland (Newcastle Chronicle)

“Declan was falling over and his mobility went downhill. He was falling and banging his head a lot. He needs one-to-one care. The school said they just couldn't give him that.

"With Gateshead Council, we all agreed that we should stop as it was too much for him. There is talk of him going to a special school. while he's still able to, before the illness takes over."

Vicky said Declan is being given a new treatment infused directly into his brain, which doctors hope may prolong his life.

Vicky set up a Go Fund Me page for the trip (Newcastle Chronicle)

She has set up a to help pay for a trip to Disneyland which has so far raised more than £500 in donations.

She said: "Disneyland is magical and I just want Declan to be happy. I want to see him happy for as long as he's with us.

"I want my other two children to have as much fun with him as they can. There isn't going to be a lot of happy days. They know it's going to be tough on everybody as well as him.

Apprentice stars’ very glam lives off camera - bikini snaps to lavish holidays

"I want to give them something to look forward to and something to remember forever."

Antony Thrower