Very Special Kids: Charity helps kids like Elliot Mitchell with DiGeorge Syndrome

Brave Elliott Mitchell and others like him fighting life-limiting illnesses are about to benefit from a revamped Very Special Kids House – but these children need your help.

Very Special Kids is opening of their new hospice and their annual giving day. Picture: Josie Hayden

This day is very special for brave Elliott Mitchell and others like him fighting life-limiting illnesses.

Elliott, five-and-a-half years old, suffers from both 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, also known as DiGeorge Syndrome, and Tracheobronchomalacia.

This means he was born with a chromosome defect and needs assistance with breathing via a tracheostomy.

Elliott and therapy dog Jaffa. Picture: Josie Hayden

Elliott’s mother Jayne Mitchell said he is an “affectionate, cheeky little boy.”

Ms Mitchell said he has been involved with Very Special Kids since he was six to nine months old.

“We’re very thankful for the support they’ve given our family,” Mrs Mitchell said.

Very Special Kids is opening up their newly revamped Very Special Kids House on November 21, including the Sister Margaret Noone Hospice facility.

The new features include spaces for music and art therapy, a wheelchair-accessible playground, and Jaffa the resident therapy dog.

Elliott has an incurable genetic disorder called DiGeorge Syndrome and Tracheobronchomalacia. Picture: Josie Hayden

The opening of the revamped facility on Tuesday coincides with the annual fundraising event A Very Special Day, where public donations are doubled.

The charity provides holistic palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and support for their families – through life, death and bereavement.

The charity’s chief executive Michael Wasley said the medical needs of children are more advanced than they were previously and the new facility is set to make a difference for its patients.

“If they didn’t have the funding or support, families like ourselves wouldn’t be able to get a break,” Ms Mitchell said.