Nathan prepares for trip of a lifetime (From Gazette Series)

Nathan prepares for trip of a lifetime

A BOY from Cam with a long-term illness is ready to go on the trip of a lifetime.

Ten-year-old Nathan John, from Draycott, is set to enjoy a two-week holiday to Disney World in Florida with the Gloucestershire Cloud Nine charity.

The charity sends children with serious medical problems on holidays that they otherwise might miss out on because of their condition.

Nathan, who has nephrotic syndrome, will fly out today with the charity to the United States, along with several other children.

The syndrome is an acute condition characterised by protein leaking from the kidneys into other body tissue.

Nathan's father, Christopher John, said the family was "absolutely ecstatic" at the news that Cloud Nine had chosen Nathan to go on the trip.

Mr John said: "We were all absolutely thrilled to bits. We expected that he might have got to go next year but somebody had to drop out and Nathan got the slot.

"As soon as he heard about it he wanted to pack his bags there and then."

Although Nathan can be quite poorly at times, his father said he lives as normal life as possible with the assistance of regular medication.

Added Mr John: "When the illness was first diagnosed the long term prognosis was not good, but he has a fairly normal life in most respects.

"However, the doctors do think that the condition will burn itself out as Nathan grows up."

Nathan has attended both Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Bristol Children's Hospital for treatment and it was while at Gloucester that the family was referred to Cloud Nine.