A DEVOTED mum from Yatton has set up her own business to raise money for equipment to help her disabled son.

North Somerset Times: Sara Giddings and her son Ben.Sara Giddings and her son Ben. (Image: Archant)

Sara Giddings makes a range of items including sweet trees, soap trees and embroidered items such as quilts and cushions for her business About a Boy.

Sara began selling her creations after leaving her job to care for her son Ben, who has hydrocephalus and sleep epilepsy.

Sara said: “Ben had a massive brain haemorrhage just after he was born. We were told he would never walk or talk, but he can do both.

“He also has sleep epilepsy, where he has fits in his sleep. I sleep in an 8ft bed with him in case he fits in the night.

“Ben has had 10 major brain operations and he had meningitis four times. We’re lucky that he’s still here.”

Hydrocephalus is a build-up of fluid on the brain, which puts pressure on the organ and can cause it to be damaged leading to a wide range of effects including headaches, sickness, blurred vision and difficulty walking.

To help him cope with his illness, Ben needs special equipment including a wheelchair, specially-made shoes priced £200 and a laptop as he cannot hold a pen.

His parents also had to build a stair lift in their home because he cannot climb steps.

His condition also means that although he is only six, he weighs 6st 7lbs and is already 4ft 6ins tall.

Sara was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis and has difficulty lifting Ben out of the car.

She is now trying to raise £6,000 for a special car seat to help her get Ben in and out of the vehicle.

Sara and her husband Jason do not get much financial assistance because Ben can walk short distances unaided.

Sara said: “Once we’ve raised enough for the chair we’d like to raise money for other local people with disabled children and pay it forward.

“Equipment for disabled children is so overpriced. I would like to help people with the costs or pay for a weekend break for parents.

“Being a carer is such hard work and we’re only eligible to four hours a month of respite.”

Sara runs stalls at local markets and has also started making products for weddings.

To find out more about her business, visit About a Boy’s Facebook page, email Sara at sara.jayneyoung@yahoo.co.uk or call her on 07814 833460.