Fearless siblings are scaling the heights to raise funds for the charity that supports their baby brother.
Alfie and Tommy Issom have signed up for an adrenaline-charged skydive – bravely plunging 13,000 feet – at Beccles on 28th September.
They are raising funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) as one-year-old brother Luke receives care at The Nook. The family are regulars for short breaks and hydrotherapy sessions.
The courageous tot was only expected to live for a day – one week at best – after being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in March 2023.
He also has an unbalanced atrioventricular septal defect and Down Syndrome, but continues to fight and celebrated his first birthday earlier this year.
Alfie, 18, said: “EACH has supported my family and done so much through the whole of Luke’s journey and I know how much he, my mum and stepdad enjoy spending time at The Nook.
“Luke loves spending time on the care floor and in the sensory room and it allows them all to chill out, away from the madness.
“I’ve wanted to do something to raise funds for a while but didn’t know how to.
“When I heard about this, I knew it was perfect. Jumping out of a plane felt like a great way to celebrate his life and how far he’s come.
“I’m really looking forward to it, having done my first tandem skydive when I was 16. That gave me an experience for life and I’ve always wanted to do it again.
“The flight up was more nerve-racking than the actual skydive, but, this time around, I feel more prepared and will definitely enjoy it more.
“I’ve also managed to rope in my little brother, Tommy, who’s 16.
“He says he isn’t nervous but I know for a fact he’s going to go through the works on the day!”
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a condition where the left lower pumping chamber – the left ventricle – of the heart does not develop properly, so is much smaller than usual.
It was detected during mum Sarah’s pregnancy and Luke was not expected to survive, after being born at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.
After seven and a half weeks there, he underwent open-heart surgery – having a pulmonary artery band fitted – at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He spent another six weeks there before being transferred back to Norfolk.
Although a heart transplant has been ruled out, the family are currently waiting on a second opinion to see if further surgery might be an option.
Talented rugby player Alfie, who lives in Great Ryburgh, near Fakenham, added: “My favourite thing about my little brother is that whenever he sees me, he won’t try saying my name. He’ll just scream to try get my attention!
“When I leave, he’ll start to cry, tying to guilt-trip me into staying.
“I’m immensely proud of him because he’s come so far from when he was first born, from being told he’ll only live a week or so to having his first birthday a couple of months ago.”
To show your support and sponsor Alfie and Tommy, head here.
Meanwhile, there is still time to sign up for the EACH skydive on 28th September. To find out more and book, click here.
