Heartbroken mother ‘can’t hug her son’ because of his constant pain

Heartbroken parents have described how their son is in so much pain they can’t “hug” him. They are desperate to ease the pain suffered by Joshua Cleaver.

They have been unable to give him a ‘cuddle’ since the 14-year-old was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) four years ago after a fall on the school playground. It left the teenager in constant pain, some days he even says it’s too much for him.

Now his parents are desperately trying to raise enough money for him to have life-saving treatment abroad. According to the NHS, CRPS is a “poorly understood condition where a person experiences persistent severe and debilitating pain.

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Is not no known cure, but there are treatments available, including at the Spero Clinic in Arkansas, but this costs £75,000. So Joshua’s family and friends rallied around him to raise money for treatment.

It could change his life as, on the family’s fundraising page, Joshua describes the daily agony he endures. Speaking about his CRPS diagnosis, he wrote: “It was a pain like no other I’ve ever felt; it was a searing, searing pain right down my spine and all over my back. I screamed and couldn’t stop. It was agonizing.

“We rushed to the hospital to see what was wrong. Four and a half years later, I’m still struggling to do anything. The pain is too much to bear – I sleep very little and my whole life is consumed by pain. Some days I can’t do anything, I mean anything. I feel like I’m losing more and more to grow.”

Mum Lisa added: ‘If I were to touch Joshua’s hand, that would be enough to make him cry out in pain. The pain varies from day to day, but we haven’t been able to hug him for four and a half years.

“The treatment available in the UK focuses primarily on managing the pain rather than curing the condition itself. The Spero Clinic is the only place in the world that offers this type of treatment – people travel from all over the world to get there.

“The pain is only getting worse, Joshua is living in agony every day – he can’t go on like this. Going to the Spero Clinic could change his life forever.”

To help reach the huge total, a number of fundraisers have been organized and his father will be ziplining the world’s fastest in Wales, as well as abseiling the 100ft Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.

Lisa’s family friend and former colleague Lee Skinner will also tackle the Scottish Three Peaks to help fund Joshua’s treatment. “When it became clear that there was this possibility of treatment,” he said. “I really wanted to step up and help however I could.

“My son and I are taking part in the Three Peaks Challenge to help raise money for Joshua’s treatment. Lisa has been a great employee and is an outstanding mother to Joshua. We want Josh to be able to walk, run and do things we all take for granted.”

The family’s local church also donated £10,000 to his care. To make a donation to the family fundraiser, click Here .

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