LITTLE Eiden McDowell may never walk or talk.

At 14 months of age he weighs just 12lb 8oz, the same as an eight-week-old baby.

Despite suffering from a range of medical conditions and undergoing numerous genetic tests during his short life, Eiden has no diagnosis and is among those children classified as having a syndrome without a name (SWAN).

But his devoted parents Sasha McDowell and Simon Gillings from the Springbourne area of Bournemouth don’t dwell on the negatives.

“We just take one day at a time and cherish our time with Eiden; he’s a very special little man,” Sasha, 35, told the Daily Echo.

“Some days we struggle, others we break down but Eiden has taught us one very valuable lesson. We have been blessed to have him, whatever the future may bring and whatever battles we have to face.”

When he was born, Eiden couldn’t breathe for himself and was rushed into intensive care and placed on a ventilator.

He is fed through his stomach with high energy milk 16 hours a day and is unable to sit unaided or roll over. He has to be turned every two hours during the night and needs round-the-clock care. Twice a month his parents and four-year-old sister Katinka spend a few hours away from the stress of constant caring when a babysitter from Julia’s House comes to their home.

Sasha said: “We accept that Eiden will probably never been able to walk any distance and will need a wheelchair. But we’d love to see him stand on his own; it’s the unknown.

“He is such a happy child and never ceases to amaze us so we have to remain positive, for his sake.”

Eiden will need intensive therapy to help him learn to do the things we all take for granted and, with the support of the Tree of Hope children’s charity, his family are fundraising to buy equipment and therapy sessions.

Sasha said: “We want Eiden to take part in a programme being run by the Brainwave Centre in Brighton, but this costs £3,500 a year, and his physiotherapist has told us a special Lycra suit would control his flexibility.

“The special suit costs £800 and would have to be replaced as he grows.

“Eiden is also being assessed for a specialist buggy.”

A number of fundraising events are being organised including an Easter fun day at Springbourne Christian Centre on March 31 and a charity night at the Hotel Celebrity in Gervis Road. Details have yet to be finalised.

To find out more about Eiden and support fundraising go to treeof hope.org.uk or facebook.com/pages/ Fundraising-for-our-special-little -man-Eiden.