Celebrating Christmas in July for my disabled son

[JustSeven]

My 7yo DS has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, it's an incurable muscle-wasting condition. Between the ages of 8-12 he'll lose the ability to walk, and during his teens he will lose the use of his arms due to his muscles wasting and becoming too weak. He'll become dependent on a ventilator and will die from heart or respitory failure, probably during his early 20's. He has 3 younger sisters ranging from 9 months to 3.5 years.

We've decided that as he won't get as many Christmases as most people, plus with everything else he has to go through that he deserves an extra Christmas each year. It may be a bit bonkers but on 15th July we'll be celebrating Christmas, Aussie style (I can't face cooking turkey and all the trimming in our kitchen/sauna in July, so BBQ it is!). We'll be having presents, Christmas carols, our family tradition Xmas eve buffet and even decorating the Xmas tree. I've even asked people to send us Christmas cards.

So I now have 3 weeks to plan and countdown to our bonus Aussie Christmas!

[nickdrakeslovechild]

Great, I wlll get them out of the loft and pm you xx

[Araisaris]

What a lovely idea OP. Please pm me if you'd like a card sent.

[nickdrakeslovechild]

Hi JustSeven just PM'd you.

[lollyj84]

What a lovely idea. I hope you and your family have a wonderful day.
Mums like you are an inspiration.

[RainbowInACloud]

I know you've got another week or so to go but MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I hope you and your son have a magical day. What a beautiful idea.

[JustSeven]

Thank you everyone for your kind words. A few of the presents I ordered arrived this morning. I've also ordered the rest this morning. DH has a decanter, I have a book I've had on my Amazon wishlist for ages, the DC's each have a puzzle and I've ordered the little people princess castle for DD 1&2 to share as DS has been sent a few presents from generous well-wishers.

Asda is delivering the Christmas food order on Monday night, gin (the good stuff I can't afford all the time!), cheeses, port & plenty of chocolatey treats!

We've so far received 39 cards, I can't believe how many people have got behind us!

[lostlalaloopsy]

What a wonderful idea! I am so sorry to hear about your son's condition.

I would happily send you a card if you pm me.

[lunar1]

It's your Christmas Eve tomorrow!! Are you all ready?

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

I have only just seen this message. I would love to send a card though. If you see this message in time then please send me a PM and I will send a card first class so that you get it (hopefully on Wednesday) x

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

I have only just seen this message. I would love to send a card though. If you see this message in time then please send me a PM and I will send a card first class so that you get it (hopefully on Wednesday) x

[ADesperateMummy]

Hope your ready for your Christmas Eve tomorrow OP

[tiredvommachine]

Bugger, likewise just seen this thread.
OP please PM me too and I'll send a card through to you x

[maybetomorrow22]

Slightly off topic but when I was younger a friend of a friend's mum used to celebrate half birthdays! The kids would get little presents, their favourite tea and half a birthday cake. I thought it was a fab idea and I was always jealous.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

[madamginger]

What a lovely idea.
My DH cousin had DMD and passed away not long after we got together, it's a bloody cruel disease. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

[Blueblackdye]

Go go go OP. Wishing your sin and your family a Merry Christmas. Will be thinking of you.

[Blueblackdye]

SON, not sin, sorry for typo.

[chairmeoh]

Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a magical day

[JustSeven]

I've PM'd those that asked for our address.

We've had a Christmas Eve breakfast today of coffee and pastries, now about to put up the tree. This afternoons plan is to watch The Polar Express with a big tub of haribo, followed by a buffet tea

We've recently launched a trust to fundraise for equipment and adaptations for our son, we're currently collecting bric-a-brac and tombola prizes for an event in a couple of weeks. A lady DH know told him yesterday she had a few bits to bring round, it turned out to be a present for each of us!

If anyone would like to have a look at our trust Facebook page (no pressure, but likes and shares are always appreciated!) there's a link here

Thanks for all of your well wishes

[NoHaudinMaWheest]

Merry Christmas! Hope you are having a good day.

[MrsEvadneCake]

Happy Christmas Eve.

[threenotfour]

I was just going to say that there is loads of PR Christmas food, decorating, etc around at the moment due to magazine photoshoots, etc. It would be well worth contacting the head offices of M&S, John Lewis, etc and also a few big publishing houses. I know you are not looking for hand outs ... but I imagine that this stuff is going in the bin tbh. You may as well use it for them!

Your idea sounds great. What a fabulous memory making thing to do. I am sorry it's not in better circumstances but well done for being a wonderful mum in hard times.

[redshoeblueshoe]

To the Justseven family


Have a lovely Christmas

[ADesperateMummy]

Merry Christmas!! Hope you all have a great day xxx

[BicycleMadeForTwo]

Merry Christmas. Hope you have a great day together!

[lunar1]

Merry Christmas!!