Local 5-year-old takes on huge challenge for NHS

Christian has cerebral palsy and severe sight impairment but that hasn't stopped the special 5-year-old taking on a huge challenge to raise money for the NHS.

You might recognise him from the Facebook page 'Sign Along with Us' which follows him and his big sister Jade on their signing journey as well as a recent episode of Britain's Got Talent.

Christian was still born at birth and didn't take his first breath for 24 minutes. This left him with HIE - a type of brain injury. He also has cerebral palsy, severe sight impairment, global development delay and sensory processing disorder.

He hasn't always been Jade's little brother, but they've always had a very special bond:

"He came to live with us when he was 5 weeks old and we fostered him. We were told he would never walk, talk, he would never be able to eat food, he's just be in a wheelchair and wouldn't survive the winter. He was put up for adoption but because his bleak outlook nobody came forward to adopt him.

"But we didn't focus on everything he wouldn't be able to do. We just focused on what he was doing and we just saw past all that. We knew he was meant to be part of our lives for ever so our mum and dad adopted him so now Christian is our brother. 

"He's now doing everything we were told he wouldn't do. I taught him sign language to enable him to communicate, he's walking on a walking frame, he's eating food, he's talking, he's signing - he's just a little miracle!"

"Mine and Christian's bond is unbreakable. When he was younger he wasn't able to talk but that didn't mean I didn't understand him. We've always understood each other. It's why I wanted to help him to communicate because I just he wanted to. I knew there was a voice in there. 

"We're best friends - I would rather spend my time with Christian than anybody else!

The lockdown has meant the family, like most of us, are having to spend a lot more time indoors. For Christian, this means he's lost some confidence in his walking.

"Christian walks on a walking frame. Recently he's become a lot more scared on it and he's struggling to walk as far. Obviously he can't walk for ages because of his cerebral palsy but we wanted to get Christian his confidence back and also raise money for the NHS because they literally saved Christian's life. If it weren't for them we wouldn't have him and we're so grateful to them. 

"It's a real challenge for Christian. We've been pushing him every day to walk that little bit further so we hit our 3 mile target. He's doing so well! He doesn't let the fact that his legs might be aching get to him he just smiles through it and he's walking. He's just doing us so proud.

"Music is a massive inspiration for Christian. It's how he learns most of his signs, it gets him moving, he sings to it. Before he could talk he could sign certain words in a song which was amazing. It really gives him that push that he needs to get going. 

"Christian's lost his confidence on his walking frame during the lockdown because he was at school every day. He's have play time and then he'd have to walk to the dining hall, walk back to class and things like that but in our house we're limited on space. We've got a garden but he struggles to push it on grass. 

"When he's walking in the house he's walking on a flat surface which means when we go outside and it's a bit bumpy, he's not used to it anymore. That's why we're doing this challenge and we're getting him back on his frame. We know he can do it and he's doing amazing so far."

While on the phone to Jade this morning, she was told by her mum that Olly Murs had retweeted their video of Christian walking and had donated £2,000.

Jade couldn't believe the news:

"Oh my gosh - wow! Christian was dancing to his music while he was walking round so we tagged him and he's just shared it and donated £2,000.

"Oh my gosh, it's crazy. It feels amazing that someone like him would sponsor Christian."

That's not the only famous face that has been a huge support for Jade and Christian. 

Sign Along With Us audition for Britain's Got Talent which was shown on our TV screens earlier in April. And none other than David Walliams pressed the golden buzzer for the group:

"It's out of this world that Christian is able to not only walk on that stage but to then speak into a microphone - not only the speaking aspect of it but because of his sensory issues, a microphone is always something he's been terrified of and I was a little bit nervous he'd be upset by it, but then he just spoke into the microphone and I was so proud of him! He just took it in his stride - he was meant to be on that stage.

"He was just showing everybody that 'This is me', that's why that song was perfect and not only was he able to speak but he could understand the question as well. He's just amazing 

"To get the golden buzzer was unreal. I still can't believe it sometimes now. We were up there doing what we love most, being together and then we'd had that special moment - we were already in tears when the song finished and then we noticed that David hit the golden buzzer and it was like all our dreams had come true. To see everyone around me so happy and to know that, not only had we been accepted and been able to perform on stage, but David Walliams had hit his golden buzzer for us. It's a moment that I will never ever forget!

"Watching it back on the telly was like reliving that moment again. We were all on a zoom call before it, getting all hyped up and excited. People had decorated their houses in gold and stuff. To watch it back, we were all in tears - I was jumping around.

"To watch our performance, it was really good because obviously I was up there signing so I didn't get to see everybody but because I taught them all it was really nice to see how they did. They absolutely smashed it - I was so proud!"

You can follow them on social media and donate to Christian's challenge on https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/christiankilduff

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