Meet Joey Jenkins: Overcoming Challenges with the Help of Tree of Hope

Meet Joey Jenkins, an 11-year-old from Bridgend, Wales, who lives with his loving family. Despite facing significant challenges, Joey remains a happy and sociable young man. Joey’s life is far from ordinary as he battles a rare gene mutation known as VPS4A, a condition so rare it doesn't have a proper name. Read on to discover Joey's inspiring story and how the Tree of Hope charity has made a significant impact on his life and that of his dad, Chris.

Joey's Medical Challenges and Resilience

Joey’s condition brings a host of challenges, including severe, medicine-resistant epilepsy, limited mobility, and impaired communication. He is peg-fed, relies on a Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS) to manage his seizures, and has significant visual impairment. Despite being non-verbal, Joey communicates through sounds and expressions, showcasing his joyful personality and love of life.

Joey’s Passion for Music

Joey has a deep love for music—everything from heavy metal to classical tunes, as long as it’s loud and rhythmic! One of his favorite songs is George Ezra’s "Shotgun." His dad, Chris, shares, "He loves making noise with hand drums and has even discovered how to blow raspberries on his hand, which gets everyone's attention! Joey is very sociable and loves to be fussed over when we're out and about."

Tree of Hope's Support for Joey

In 2017, Joey and his family reached out to Tree of Hope to assist with the purchase of essential equipment that would improve Joey’s comfort and mobility at home. Thanks to fundraising efforts, the family has raised £20,000, enabling them to buy:

• A Baffin Trio stander to aid Joey’s muscle tone.
• A P-Pod supportive chair for comfort during family time.
• A hydrotherapy pool that allows Joey to relax and benefit from sensory experiences.

These items were made possible with the help of family, friends, local businesses, and grants from charities like Joseph’s Smile and The Jack O’Donnell Foundation, partners of Tree of Hope.

Facing New Challenges: Home Adaptations for Joey

As Joey grows, his family now faces the challenge of adapting their home to meet his evolving needs. They need to raise an additional £15,000 to modify their home, which is no longer suitable. Chris explains, “We live in a three-story townhouse, and as Joey gets older and heavier, it becomes more challenging to manage daily life safely.”

The family is exploring options to either adapt their current home or move to a new one, but either way, they’ll need to add features like:

• A downstairs bedroom.
• A wet room.
• An accessible living area.

Chris emphasizes the importance of these changes: “Our priority is to ensure Joey has the best quality of life as he enters his teenage years.”

Continuing Fundraising Efforts

To raise the funds, Chris and his local football team are organizing a charity match and exploring additional grants and donations. Chris adds, “Balancing my job, caring for Joey, and managing fundraising can feel overwhelming at times. But the support from friends, colleagues, and Tree of Hope keeps us going.”

How Tree of Hope Helps Families Like Joey’s

Tree of Hope provides families with a platform to confidently fundraise, offering back-office support, gift aid, match funding, and grants to maximize donations. Chris encourages families facing similar situations to connect with others and ask for help. He shares, “At first, I hesitated to ask for help, but I realized it’s about Joey’s quality of life. Tree of Hope has been instrumental in guiding us.”

We are excited to continue supporting Joey and his family on their journey. If you know a family in need of similar assistance, Tree of Hope can help.

Follow Joey's Journey on Facebook: Joey the Superboy