Happy Ending In Sight For The Stone Family After Tale Of Bravery, Joy And Hope Overcoming Despair

A happy ending to a heartrending tale of bravery, joy and hope overcoming tragedy and despair now looks more likely for the Stone family.

In 2015, the family's world was shattered when Oliver Jude, seven, was diagnosed with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a rare genetic condition. He underwent intensive treatment, including a bone marrow transplant, and faced countless battles in hospital.

His older sister Claudia was a perfect bone marrow match and saved her brother’s life through her donation and grueling treatment.

Mother Sian Stone said: "With Claudia's thoughtless generosity and Ollie’s courage shining through nearly two years in hospital, we brought home a very changed Ollie, who needed 24/7 care. We adapted our lives to ensure he was happy and safe."

A life that lasted another nine years until this April, when Ollie suddenly passed away.

"We are now trying to navigate the immense void left by his passing; as a family, our lives revolved around Ollie and we are exhausted and in need of time to heal and reconnect.

"Claudia has sacrificed so much to support her brother and we want to support her in becoming mobile and independent, giving her the freedom she deserves after all she has given up."

The North Yorkshire Stone family's fundraising appeal https://gofund.me/d9dca1fe has gained the backing of the Hessle-based health and social group NLG, which recently raised £1,000 for them at an employee Bonfire Night and Halloween Fundraising Event and Bake Off at their Hessle head office.

Mark Hathway, managing director of NLG, who are major suppliers to the NHS and UK health care, said: "As a business every minute of the day NLG is involved in helping to look after and care for others less fortunate than ourselves.

"We have been lucky to have supported the family through Ollie's illness and now want to help the family through their recovery. For someone who has never been in this situation it must be hard, if not impossible to imagine the trauma and absolute sheer fatigue of what they have been through.

"Claudia, her mother and father and family now need some additional help and support after everything that they have gone through, in particular Claudia to allow her to gain her mobility and independence and the family to reconnect and heal after years of intense caregiving."

The Go Fund Me page: https://gofund.me/d9dca1fe