No arms, No legs, but All the Love in the World

Thursday evening I started to plan to write om Friday morning about a very brave little boy, but as we all know yesterday we awoke to very sad news, but even at this time I feel it is still more fitting to tell you about four year old Harley Slack from near me in Stockport Cheshire.

It was like any other night when Harley woke with a sore throat and high temperature, Adam and Samantha quickly took him to hospital, were very quickly Harley was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and he was fighting for his life. It was the very worst thing for any parent and no more so than Mum Samantha and Daddy Adam.

Harley went into cardiac arrest three times and at one time he was dead for four minutes, before being revived. But more more was ahead for this little fighter.

Doctors managed to stabilise him, then though septicaemia set in and his circulation packed in, this was devastating. His Daddy Adam said, "Harley was in a bad way and he went black from head to toe, his little body was an open wound as his circulation had packed in. It was at this time his young parents must have prepared for the worst, Harley was and is a fighter.

Bacterial meningitis is more serious than the common viral form, and it can lead to brain damage. Doctors quickly came to the conclusion that they would have to amputate Harley's arms beneath the elbow and legs from his knee, to save his life.

Now as you can see from the photo's, the little boy who had been running around weeks earlier at nursery now has "No Arms, No Legs, but All the Love in The World" from his Parents.


It is simply amazing the smile Harley has, he has such more surgery ahead of skin grafts and is expected to stay in The Royal Manchester Children's Hospital for the rest of the year. So many times he asks to be picked up and to be able to sit on his Mummy or Daddy's knees, but it is not possible yet.

How does this make us feel when we complain about the least little ailment at times. Family and Friends have opened the Harley Slack Fund, they want to be able to provide him with the best available artificial limbs and will need to adapt their home. The aim is to raise £100,000 so Harley can be given the best chance in life.

The latest news last night is that Harley's wounds are healing even faster than expected, which is such good news.

The story brought tears to my eyes and sadly I can only help in a small way, but I'm sure many will feel the same.

For information on Harley and how to help:

harleyslackfund.giving.officelive.com