Terminally ill 10-year-old boy from Sefton granted last wish to meet Santa

A terminally ill boy’s wish to see Santa one last time has come true after a “surprising” response to his mother’s appeal on social media.

Ten-year-old Jacob, from Sefton, Merseyside, was diagnosed with a rare metabolic disorder known as non-ketotic hyperglycinemia and is now receiving end-of-life care after his condition worsened.

His mother Gemma put out a plea on local Facebook pages for a Santa Claus to come to her home in Netherton to give her son one last Christmas experience.

She said she was “bombarded with messages from the community wanting to help” and within hours a visit was arranged.

“It was incredible. I didn’t expect it,” the 34-year-old said.

Jacob was diagnosed with this rare disease when he was just days old and has since developed gastrointestinal dystonia, a debilitating stomach condition caused by neurological deterioration.

Gemma and her father Kevin, 35, were told on Wednesday that nothing more could be done for him.

He said the family were “numb and heartbroken” while Jacob, who has two brothers, Joseph, two, and Joel, 12, slept a lot.

The family was supposed to take Jacob and his siblings on a trip to visit Santa next week, but his condition worsened and prevented him from going.

Gemma, who described her son as giggly and cheeky, said he had “brought us a lot of joy”.

He said the chance to see Santa one last time before moving to his “forever home” would delight him and allow him to “create precious memories” with his two brothers.

Speaking after Santa’s visit, Gemma said: “It was amazing to be able to fulfill our wish for our son to see Santa one last time.

“Thank you to Paula Blair from Kirkby Christmas Crusade and AC Mascots for coming and making this difficult time bearable.”

Gemma said the hospice’s palliative care team had supported him and “were amazing and guided us every step of the way”.

Jacob is obsessed with the Disney movie Moana and the team has already organized someone to come in and sing him songs from the movie.

She said she was still stunned by the “massive” reaction to her Facebook post where people had chosen a Santa Claus within hours.

Her Facebook post read: “My wish is for my children to create as many memories together as they can as time is precious as their middle brother is terminally ill.”