Life-changing plans drawn up for little Louie in Sheffield

Award-winning architectural practice CODA Bespoke is working to make life easier for a young Barnsley boy living with a rare disease that has a major impact on every aspect of his life.

When Louie George Wood was born at just 28 weeks in 2016 he weighed only 2lb and suffered a brain bleed, chronic lung disease, suspected sepsis, anaemia and stomach issues.

Having survived that ordeal though, mum and dad Jodie and Tom and older brother Jake were then given the devastating news that L ouie George had been diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy.

The family has now set about the task of raising the £120,000 needed to pay for life improving surgery in the USA.

And at the same time they have put out an appeal for help in making their Mapplewell home safer and more user friendly for Louie George.

“We live in an old house and one that really isn’t very easy for Louie George to get around in,” Jodie explained.

“I went onto Facebook and put out a bit of a cry for help and we were amazed by the response.

“It turned into a bit of a DIY SOS sort of situation, with builders, tilers and plumbers all offering their help.

“But most important at this stage, Abel Hinchliffe from CODA Bespoke got in touch and offered to create the designs for the extension we need.”

Those plans, which have now been approved by Barnsley Council, will see the creation of a new kitchen deigned with Louie George’s needs in mind, improved access to the garden, a lift, specially adapted toilet, physio room and a wet room.

“It was really important to us that Louie George should be upstairs with us at night and not in another part of the house,” Jodie said.

“He suffers from chronic lung disease and you can guarantee that things always happen at night so I need to know I can run straight in to him.

“CODA’s designs give us everything that we need and we can’t wait to get the work started.”

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