Skydive for Friends of Alfie Jones

The Beginning

The Friends of Alfie Johnson was formed back in 2009, as a fundraising organisation, set up by family and friends who were solely committed to helping Alfie, after he suffered such devastating brain-injuries at birth. We held our first ever Summer Ball in The Earls Suite, Copthorne Hotel, Merry Hill in 2009 which raised an outstanding £8,000, which allowed us to build Alfie his very own Sensory Room at home, which had a positive impact on his life.

Many other fundraising events followed which helped to purchase specialist items of equipment for Alfie, which included a standing frame, a specialist armchair to relax at home, bespoke spinal vests to help with his scoliosis and trips to a specialist brain injury centre called Brainwave in Somerset. We also purchased specialist car seats, so he could be transported safely; Alfie also had lots of other sensory toys brought through funds raised and much more. The impact on Alfie’s life through the kindness of others was amazing, and something his parents and the Friends of Alfie Johnson never forgot.

In 2014, the Friends of Alfie Johnson were successfully registered as a non-profit charity, solely committed to Helping Children with Disabilities in the Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton boroughs of the Black Country. Since then, we have continued to help children, like Alfie, and as a thank you to all of those who helped to make Alfie’s life a little easier through what was started for him back in 2009.

ABOUT US

The Friends of Alfie Johnson is a non-profit charity solely committed to helping children with disabilities in Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton. Since 2009, we have been fundraising to help purchase specialist equipment for children with disabilities. We have helped over 400 children and their families along the way and provided them with life-changing opportunities to enhance the quality of their lives.

ALFIE’S STORY

Alfie Johnson’s story is one of great sadness and of hope. Through the traumatic birth he endured, the countless hospital procedures and the daily discomfort his condition brought, Alfie Johnson was a young boy who was not only a fighter, but an inspiration to so many, proving that through darkness, light can shine and that there is always hope.

Alfie Johnson was born on Remembrance Day in 2007. He was born lifeless and blue after what was thought to be a ‘Low Risk’ natural birth.

Alfie was taken to the Specialist Care Baby Unit for observation. Hours after his birth, his parents were given the devastating news that Alfie had suffered brain damage, because of oxygen starvation.

After the euphoria of seeing their first child born, this quickly turned to utter devastation. Their introduction to becoming parents for the first time was heart-breaking. After spending 3 weeks in hospital, including Intensive Care and High-Dependency unit’s, Alfie was finally allowed to go home.

As a result of his injuries, Alfie was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, and now suffers with a number of complex conditions and is reliant on a variety of anti-convulsing drugs, to help with his epilepsy, and anti-spasmodic drugs to help with painful muscular spasms. He also suffers with hip-dysplasia, scoliosis, cortical-blindness, reflux and has poor bone-density. He will require specialist 24-hour care for the rest of his life as a direct result of the injuries he sustained whilst in the care of the hospital.

Wanting answers to how their son suffered such terrible injuries, his parents requested an investigation by the hospital to look into why their precious boy had been left so severely disabled in their care. Their initial response was that they did everything right and no further investigation was to take place. Not satisfied with the hospital’s response, Alfie’s parents took legal action against them. After a lengthy investigation, lasting over 8 years, the hospital finally admitted that their negligence had indeed led to Alfie’s life-limiting injuries. Alfie’s future was finally secured because of the legal case.
 

Sadly on Sunday 26th November 2023, our beautiful boy, Alfie John Arthur Johnson, sadly passed away following a brief respiratory illness. Despite the loving care of Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Alfie sadly could not recover. At 22:46pm, Alfie passed away at Acorns Children’s Hospice, in Selly Oak, Birmingham, surrounded by his loving family. We would like to thank all the nurses, doctors and consultants at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and the wonderful, loving care Alfie and his family received from all the amazing staff at Acorns Children’s Hospice.