Brave Little Fighter

But while baby Harvey remains the life and joy for the Parrys, his = birth has=20 nonetheless been a roller-coaster ride for the couple, who watched as = the little=20 boy faced a debilitating disease and underwent painful surgery.=20

First, at 15 months old, Harvey was diagnosed with meningitis = meningococcal=20 septicaemia, a potentially deadly brain bug which severely attacked his = body.=20 Then five months ago, the Parrys were pained when doctors were forced to = amputate Harvey's legs well above the knees and a part of his right arm. = The=20 surgery was necessary to save the little boy's life.=20

At one point, doctors told the devastated parents that they would = lose their=20 son.=20

"Waiting to see if Harvey would live or die, time stopped," Carol = Harvey told=20 The Voice. "Nothing mattered anymore, only Harvey. We honestly thought = we were=20 going to lose him."=20

The doctors, however, didn't count on little Harvey's will. One day = last week=20 he sat in a wicker chair, a cheeky half-smile across his lips. He might = have=20 been any other toddler, but the limitations of the amputations and the = obvious=20 scars from the disease and surgery.=20

" My son is so lucky that he is here," Mrs Parry said. "He is still = not 100=20 per cent and it will take a lot to get him where he was."=20

The Parrys are hoping that the public will help Harvey on that = journey and to=20 walk again. They have recently launched a campaign to raise money to = acquire=20 state-of-the-art prosthetic limbs to help the little boy walk again. = They want=20 =A340,000 each year so that Harvey can be fitted with new limbs as he = grows.=20

The NHS has provided Harvey with prosthetic limbs, but not the = quality his=20 parents hope to have. They want to consult world-renowned Dorset = Orthopaedic=20 Hospital, which famously fitted a leg for Heather Mills.=20

"He fought from the moment he was conceived, and he is still fighting = now,=20 which is why we are trying to do our best to get him the new legs that = he=20 needs," Mrs Parry said of her son. "These special legs are safe, secure = and are=20 made to match his skin complexion and texture. They have little toes and = look=20 very life-like, unlike the legs provided by the NHS. So, for our son, = that would=20 have him feel positive in himself."=20

Said Mrs Parry of the NHS prosthesis: "They often fall off and look=20 unrealistic. They are not the same colour as his skin and are also very = heavy=20 and uncomfortable. They do not look like legs at all. When I go to pick = Harvey=20 up he often would say 'No I am walking up stairs', but the reality is he = can't,"=20 his mum said.=20

Presently, the NHS will not pay for the special limbs , but the Parry = family=20 believes would wish to contribute to the enhancement of Harvey's life.=20

"We want Harvey to lead a normal life like any other child. He could = go to a=20 normal school and he would be able to have a successful life and a good = career.=20 That's what we want for him. He is a very bright child and that's why we = really=20 need to make sure we give him the best opportunities," Mrs. Parry said.=20

The family's public campaign to raise awareness has seen them on the = streets=20 of London using placards to capture the attention of passers by, to = explain=20 Harvey's condition and the Parry family's vision for his future.=20

"If anyone can help us raise money for Harvey, we would be thrilled. = We just=20 want him to be able to live a normal life, and with these legs, it will = really=20 help him." Baby Harvey's mother said.=20

You can give Harvey your support, through your donation. This will = enable the=20 family to provide him with the best limbs, resources and equipment = available.=20

To make a difference to Harvey's life visit:=20 www.harveyparry-appealfund.comwhere donations can be made via paypal.=20

Alternatively cheques can be made out to Harvey Parry and senbt to = the Harvey=20 Parry Appeal Fund, 75 Northern Avenue, Edmonton, London, N9 9QZ=20

Published: 13 August 2007
Issue: 1282 =