Life-Changing Surprise: Leo’s Stairlift Dream Becomes Reality

A few weeks ago, we shared the story of 12-year-old Leo Dixon and his family’s struggle to secure a stairlift for their home. Born with an extremely rare form of Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, Leo is the only person in the world with his unique variation of Bethlem Myopathy Muscular Dystrophy Col6a2.

As his condition progressed, he became a full-time wheelchair user, making it impossible for him to access his upstairs bedroom without being carried.

His mother, Susan Dixon, had spent years exploring every possible avenue for assistance, but repeated setbacks meant that a stairlift remained out of reach.

With no available grants to cover the cost and facing a long road ahead for home adaptations, Susan turned to the community for help. A GoFundMe campaign was launched, and the response was nothing short of extraordinary.

In just four weeks, donations totalling over €9,000 from friends, family, and even complete strangers made the dream a reality.

The campaign caught the attention of Dermot Nolan from ABC Stairlifts, whose kindness and swift action helped change Leo’s life. From the first phone call, Dermot reassured Susan that this was possible, and within weeks, the stairlift was measured, ordered, and installed. All ahead of schedule.

For the Dixon family, this is more than just an accessibility upgrade. It’s a life-changing moment. No longer does Leo have to rely on being carried upstairs at night or shuffle down in the morning. Instead, he now has the freedom and independence he deserves.

Susan expressed her overwhelming gratitude, saying,

“We are forever grateful to every single person who donated or shared our posts. Some people may not understand the huge life-changing impact this will have for our family, but I can tell you, this is huge. We always strive to give Leo the independence he needs and deserves, and this is another step on that journey.”

“This incredible outpouring of support is a testament to the power of community. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed, shared, and helped make this happen. Leo’s journey to greater independence has taken a giant leap forward, and Arklow has once again shown the strength of its kindness and generosity.”