Fundraisers aim to bring cheer to Clayton-le-Woods family who are facing Christmas heartbreak

A COMMUNITY is rallying around a family facing a heartbreaking situation this Christmas.
Jack Johnstone with dad Kev, sister Isobelle and mum TinaJack Johnstone with dad Kev, sister Isobelle and mum Tina
Jack Johnstone with dad Kev, sister Isobelle and mum Tina

Ten-year-old Jack Johnstone has cystic fibrosis and underwent a double lung transplant last year, hoped to give him a new lease of life.

But the youngster is currently fighting for his life in Great Ormond Street Hospital, where he had been on a ventilator until this weekend after becoming severely ill two weeks ago.

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Medics are unable to predict whether Jack will pull through, but the family’s “dream” is to be able to spend Christmas together at their home in Clayton-le-Woods.

Friends and well-wishers are now working to create a Winter Wonderland at the family home, to bring some festive cheer to his sister Izzie.

Jack’s dad Kevin, 37, said: “It’s nice to see all the support, and it shows everyone is behind us.”

Jack went into respiratory arrest while in hospital in Manchester just over two weeks ago, and since then he has been taken by air ambulance to Great Ormond Street.

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He had been on a life-support machine until Saturday night, and last Tuesday the family was told he had just 48 hours to live. But Jack is continuing to fight, and the situation is changing day by day.

Dad Kevin, 37, had posted a Facebook message asking if anyone was able to decorate their house, and family friend and fundraiser Stephen Wilson has now become involved and is determined to turn it into a winter wonderland.

Kevin said: “It is for Izzie, but Jack may improve and pull through this and the dream is to have him home for Christmas. It’s phenomenal, we thought all it was going to be was the family and friends I tagged in the post.

“But Stephen is a close friend of the family and before we knew it he got involved and it just escalated. It’s nice to see all the support, and it shows everybody is behind us.”

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He added: “Ever since the day she was born, Izzie’s life has been around medication and hospital visits.

“She, unfortunately, is in the background a little bit so we want to do something special for her.”

How can you help?

Family friend Stephen Wilson, 48, is asking for donations of a snow machine and new festive lights to decorate the outside of the home this Saturday. He said: “We are trying to turn it into a winter wonderland outside.”

Stephen added: “We want to make it look absolutely wow and give Izzie, and hopefully Jack, the Christmas they deserve.”

More than £1,000 has been raised online. Anyone who is able to make a donation is asked to call Stephen on 07974644546.