Festive lights plea for ill Rowley Regis boy

Melodie and Paul William do not know what the future holds for three-year-old Mason, who was born with a rare genetic condition, and are determined to make the festivities special for him and his four bothers and sisters.

With help from friends, Mrs Williams has been swamped with offers of Christmas lights to transform their garden at Mountford Close into a mini Walsall illuminations and is now hoping for donations of garden arches to display some of the lighting festoons and other outdoor decorations.

She said: "I'd be grateful for anything. I just want to make this Christmas special for Mason, who can't see properly and loves light and sound.

"But I also want to do it for his siblings as well, because it's hard for them and I want them to have special memories with him."

Mason was born with micro deletion, which means a band of his chromosomes is missing, resulting in a number of disabilities.

He has hypoplastic left heart syndrome - commonly known as having half a heart - for which he has undergone two procedures, but cannot have the final stage because his lung pressures are too high.

Mrs Williams, aged 41, said the procedure could be completed if the pressures go down sufficiently within the next 12 months and the family refuses to give up hope.

They were told he would not walk because he has low muscle tone but the determined tot defied the experts and can walk a little, but he can't speak and is partially sighted.

Mr Williams, a 34-year-old auto electrician, has been tasked with putting up the lights and the family is planning a grand switch-on, with mince pies and refreshments to thank those who have donated, on Friday December 6.

"People have been very kind and I couldn't have done this without the help of my friends," added Mrs Williams.

Anyone wishing to donate a festive item should contact her by email at melodie_williams@hotmail.co.uk or by calling 07515871591.