A HEARTFELT plea has been made for a specialist chair to enable a severely disabled Cradley boy to sit in safety whilst being fed through a tube in his stomach five times a day.

Four-year-old Jake Baker, who has a genetic disorder combined with autism and uncontrolled epilepsy, desperately needs one to help transform his everyday life.

Statutory services have provided the family with a rigid functional chair for meal times but as each feed takes between 40 minutes and two hours, it becomes uncomfortable and often results in Jake having a ‘meltdown’.

He needs to be secure while he is fed because too much movement could pull the tubes out of his stomach.

Mum Rebecca has to hold him on her lap during feeds at their Colley Lane home and a specialist P-Pod chair would also free her during the long sessions, knowing he was comfortable and safe.

The Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children has stepped in with the appeal for ‘local heroes’ to help fund the purchase of this vital piece of equipment.

The charity already has £285 towards the £855 cost and donors are needed to find the remaining £570.

The P-Pod is based on a beanbag concept providing support as well as a five-point harness so the disabled child cannot fall out.

Mrs Baker, who also has a 10-year-old daughter Ella, said: “He is too big for a traditional high chair and the functional seat we have been given is just too hard to be comfy for more than a few minutes at a time. He gets very upset when he is in the seat.

“We thought about getting an ordinary bean bag for Jake, but he needs to be secured so he can’t move around and dislodge his feeding tubes.”

The chair would also provide a much-needed comfortable, well-supported and secure place for him to be whilst recovering from seizures.

Mrs Baker, Jake’s main carer, helped by self-employed husband Neil, added: “We have been very lucky to have had Newlife’s help for Jake in the past - they gave us a specialist bed to keep him safe, which is a real life-saver.”

Jake has a complex condition and needs constant supervision. Although he can walk, unsteadily, he has little awareness of danger and finds it difficult to cope with the world around him.

To find out how to contribute to the appeal go to www.newlifecharity.co.uk/westmidlands and click on the Donate Now button next to his story.

Alternatively, contact the Newlife County Liaison Team on 01543 431 444, email local@newlifecharity.co.uk, for fundraising support.