Last week, Deeside Dragons forward Jake Witkowski paid a very special visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool to meet some true Dragons royalty.

Jake spent time with dad Dan and his son Frankie, aged 16 months, who is bravely battling a microdeletion of multiple chromosomes and dystonic cerebral palsy: the only known case of its kind in the world.

Shortly after he was born, Frankie suffered a bleed on the brain: a devastating event that changed the course of his life forever.

This injury resulted in the diagnosis of dystonic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects his muscle control, movement, and ability to do the things many children learn naturally.

Instead of spending his first year learning to crawl, explore and play, Frankie has spent over 13 months out of his 15 months of his life in hospital.

These months have been filled with uncertainty, medical procedures and countless appointments for Frankie, but also with remarkable strength, determination, and courage far beyond his years.

Despite everything he has endured, Frankie continues to smile, laugh, and show an incredible will to keep going.

During the visit, Jake presented his Moralee Cup winners medal to Frankie and spent quality time chatting with the family, sharing stories, and bringing a few smiles along the way.

On their time spent together, Frankie’s father Dan said: “I just want to thank Jake and all the Dragons family for the support they’ve shown over the last 16 months.

“Hockey has been my escape from the hospital, and the Dragons community is like a family which makes me feel like I can just be Dan and take a break away from all the medical parenting.

“The club is in an amazing place, and it is memories like this that make the club so special, and shows the love that the players and staff have for their fans.”

Because of his condition, Frankie requires specialised equipment and intensive therapy to support his development.

His family are raising funds to help provide Frankie with the specially-designed wheelchair he urgently needs, as well as additional physiotherapy sessions that are not always available through standard services.

To read more about Frankie’s story, or to leave a donation, click here.

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