Fundraiser started for Gold Coast family after six-year-old Deklan MacDonald injured in accident at Nerang home
A devastated Gold Coast family has been told their “sweet” six-year-old is beyond recovery after a freak accident. FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP
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THE devastated family of Nerang six-year-old Deklan Babington-MacDonald have been told he will never recover after a freak accident in the family home.
Deklan’s mum Lauren Babington has been told he is “beyond recovery” and will withdraw life support in the next 48 hours.
Friends and family have asked for privacy, with an update on an online fundraiser sharing: “They are reading the messages of love and support and appreciate all the love and kindness shown by the community.”
The almost $7000 raised by the fundraiser already will now go towards Deklan’s memorial and supporting the family in the weeks to come.
PREVIOUSLY:
TWO weeks ago young Deklan Babington-MacDonald was starting a second school term and indulging favourite pastimes: swimming in his nan’s pool, hitting the beach and riding his scooter.
In a nutshell, a typical happy-go-lucky Gold Coast six-year-old.
But now a tragic and unusual accident has left the “doted on” schoolboy fighting for his life in a Brisbane intensive care unit. His heartbroken family are struggling to comprehend how fast things went wrong while they were at home on ANZAC Day.
Deklan had been playing with a toy in his bedroom at his Nerang home when his mother Lauren Babington found him.
The small boy’s grandparents rushed from their home just across the road to perform CPR before he was raced to Gold Coast University Hospital, then choppered to Queensland Children’s Hospital.
His heart had stopped for almost half an hour.
Family member Lea Williams, who set up a fundraiser for mum Lauren, said: “He’s a gorgeous boy, everyone just talks about how he lights up a room.
“He’s definitely mischievous but he’s so sweet. He’s so loved, just doted on.”
The family has disclosed details of the “traumatic” accident to the Bulletin, but has asked they not be made public at this stage.
Another relative Caity MacDonald said the family was “absolutely distraught” by what had happened.
“Lauren has had to overcome the challenges of being a single mum since giving birth,” she said.
“Deklan isn’t just a grandson or nephew you would see every now and then. He is embedded in our lives, with sleepovers at Nanna’s every weekend and hangouts with the aunties all the time.
“We all raised him to be the sweet little boy he is and we all have a connection to him like no other.
“What has happened is a horrible tragedy that no one could ever see coming. Deklan is the light of our life and Lauren’s best friend.
“We are all broken and praying for our little man.”
He had recently started his second term of grade one at William Duncan State School, with happy snaps showing him showing off his big school uniform and his Easter hat.
Friends of the family have set up a fundraiser to help pay for transport and accommodation costs, as well as time off work for Ms Babington while Deklan is in hospital.
The online fundraiser has raised more than $2000 since it was set up on Tuesday by Ms Williams.
“It will help them provide whatever aid they need to give him the best chance,” she said.
“(Lauren) lives across the road from her mum so he’s over at his nan’s house every weekend, they’re such a close family and they’ve lived in Nerang together for probably 20 years.
“We just can’t believe something like this has happened.”
For information on how to donate click here.
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