“The Fund futureproofed our home for our family”

When John and his wife Mary were told by doctors to take their son Lewis home and love him, they did just that, not knowing how long they would have him. Now, 16 years on, Lewis still requires 24/7 care and support to allow him to safely engage with his family and surroundings – all of which has been made easier due to the support provided from the Fund.

Lewis was born with severe epilepsy, limited mobility, learning disabilities, autism and several other serious conditions. Against the odds, Lewis fought through. By the time he was two, his seizures had been brought under control, although he still needed constant care.

When the family’s home needed major adaptations they couldn’t afford, John – then serving in the RAF – turned to the Fund for support. The Fund provided the home adaptations Lewis needed as he grew, including adapting the garage into a safe bedroom, along with a fully accessible bathroom.

The rest of their home was also made more accessible, opening up the living room and dining room making the space big enough for Lewis’ wheelchair. The family’s life was transformed.

John said: “Before we had the changes made to the house, if Lewis was playing in his bedroom upstairs, you had to be there with him. Now, we can relax while Lewis is playing because he is safe downstairs.”

John worked as an IT/Electronic Engineer in the RAF completing just shy of 29 years of service. Since retiring in 2019, John joined Police Scotland in an IT Support role, where he can work from home which allows him to more easily assist Mary, who is a full-time carer for Lewis, and there for their youngest son Joe, aged 12.

In 2020, the Fund provided a grant for Lewis’s electric wheelchair to replace his manual chair, which was difficult for him to propel at times and very tiring. In 2024, the Fund provided a further grant to upgrade him to an adult-sized chair as Lewis grew into a young man, and this new chair will provide lifelong support to him.

John said: “The chair was amazing and meant Lewis could have that little bit of independence and control as we no longer had to wheel him. It helped him to engage more in what was around him too.”

John is proud of his RAF career, with Mary also having served for 12 years. Between them both, and their family’s service background, they have accrued over 100 years in the military.

John now shares his experience with other members of the RAF Family and supporters, delivering talks on behalf of the Fund. He said: “We received an enormous amount of support from the Fund. They futureproofed our home for us as a family and it is really coming into its own.

“These lifechanging adjustments have made our lives a lot easier. It is important that I can now give back and raise awareness of the help available to support anybody who may need it. If the Fund can help my family, then they can help you.”