News / Family raising funds for Joseph’s bionic limb
THE FAMILY of a Shetland man who suffered the effects of encephalitis throughout his youth and had his arm amputated to prevent a cancerous tumour from spreading has launched a fundraising appeal aimed at paying for a bionic limb.
Twenty five year old Joseph Williamson got encephalitis – a rare but serious conditions causing inflammation of the brain – when he was seven, followed by white matter brain damage which resulted in epileptic and behavioural issues until his 20s.
His sister Gillian said things started to look up when Joseph’s brain damage healed. He became calmer and his seizures became less erratic, but then a 3.5cm cancerous tumour was found in his right wrist.
“The cancer was extremely rare and inoperable, known not to respond to chemotherapy or radiotherapy and was on the brink of spreading,” she said. “The only option was an amputation of his arm a few inches above the elbow.”
Gillian said her brother was incredibly resilient, and after having the amputation in late 2011, within months he was sewing his own buttons back on one-handed, “stunning the nurses at his problem-solving skills and quick learning, and still beating everyone at pool”.
The type of “bebionic” arm they are looking for has a powered elbow function and costs an estimated £41,000, while in order to operate the hand Joseph needs to undergo occupational therapy at a London clinic at a cost of £800 for five sessions.
The JustGiving page would also take a fee of just over £2,000 – meaning the overall cost is a considerable £43,890.
Gillian said the family were planning to stage events to help raise funds over the next few months.
“I feel like it’s a big ask, but then I remind myself: I see causes here, Facebook, on TV, collection boxes etc., the whole time for Cancer Research, how to prevent it, how to bring awareness, but not so many for the survivors, and I hear very little about the amputees,” she said.
“This would have a real impact, quickly, if he got it. Simple things that get overlooked, like hanging up his washing, will become easy again. If you can spare anything, it would make his day.”
So far the family have raised nearly £800 in only four days, which Gillian said left her feeling “a little overwhelmed”.
She explained that Joseph, who got encephalitis after the chicken pox virus attacked his brain cells, no longer has the condition but is still dealing with various complications.
“He no longer has the encephalitis, but it caused epilepsy which he will probably have lifelong, and what I like to call a learning ‘delay’, as the white matter can and did grow back, however his education socially and educationally suffered and he is slowly learning his reading and writing again.”
The family hail from Whalsay, though Joseph now stays in town where he has two carers. His fits are nocturnal meaning he needs someone in the house to ensure he doesn’t suffocate into his pillow.
Joseph enjoys Manga films (based on Japanese comics) and socialising with friends, while he has recently begun going to a gaming club at Islesburgh with his youngest brother Curtis.
Prior to his amputation he had work placements with the Moving On employment service, and since then he has done some work at Tesco’s Lerwick supermarket.
- You can donate to the fundraising appeal for Joseph via this Just Giving page.
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