Joey Butterfield suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy which has affected his arms, legs, and even his face and torso sometimes.
A little boy from Sheffield got to experience a day at the beach with his family with the help of a big beach wheelchair offered by Ingoldmells Beach Wheelchairs. Joey Butterfield suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy which has affected his arms, legs, and even his face and torso sometimes. The family was genuinely touched and happy seeing their two-year-old boy excitedly play at the beach, reported the Good News Network.
Due to his condition, Joey suffers from severe sensory issues which means he cannot stand the feel of grass, sand, snow, or even the carpet at his home. While this ruled out any possibility of family trips to the beach, life had different plans for young Joey. He deserved to feel and experience the beauty of the sea and it came true when Joey's mother, Helen Butterfield, was approached by a charity and they offered to help Joey with the big beach wheelchair on Ingoldmells Beach in Lincolnshire.
Thanks to the wheelchair, the Butterfield family was able to plan their first trip to the beach with Joey beaming with happiness and excitement. The emotional mother captured the beautiful moment on a video, wherein little Joey happens to be squealing with joy as the sea water washes over him, with his dad by his side.
The video touched the hearts of viewers on the internet and left his mother crying happy tears as she saw her son enjoy his time at the sea and was grateful for the help provided by Ingoldmells.
“I’m just so glad I managed to get it on camera. We will never, ever forget this day," she said.
Joey's journey has been a tough one, from the very beginning. He was born prematurely at 27 weeks and he just weighed 2 pounds and 6 ounces. As a result, he could not support his body enough to sit up. He needed help for even the slightest movement and, later, was diagnosed with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. The family was told by the doctors that Joey would not be able to walk in his lifetime, but Helen, being the super mom she is, decided that her son would have every possible experience in life and she vowed to give him the best life she can offer.
True to her promise, she, along with Beach Ability Ingoldmells, were able to give him this special gift: "the chance to experience waves and mother nature’s beauty instead of feeling left out and different,” she said.
Helen is a mother of three and lives in Sheffield and is Joey's full-time caregiver. She was not only happy for her son but also overjoyed by the fact that Joey had a lot of fun at the beach. “Honestly, he has never laughed so much,” she added.
According to Helen, Joey has always been fond of water, ever since he was a baby. The only thing that pacified him was a bath full of water and bubbles. “He doesn’t handle well, especially with strangers, and gets so frustrated, but pop him in the bath and he is in heaven. It was like Joey was born to be a water baby," she said.
Even though Joey's life is challenging, his mother and family are standing strong with him and love him to no end. He has been a survivor, continues to be one, and gets the most out of what life intends to offer.
“He has been through so much, so seeing him in the sea was the best feeling ever. He is so tiny but mighty—and I’m sure his strength and determination won’t stop there,” Helen said.
References:
https://ingoldmells-beach-wheelchairs.ueniweb.com/#about_us
Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | JohnnyGreig
