Help for Lochie therapeutic for all | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

For nearly the past three years, 4-year-old Lochie Anderson has had two homes - and he loves them both.

When he's at home number one, in Waipukurau, he enjoys the company of his mum, nana, and their friends, who all think the world of this little battler.

That's for six or eight weeks, and then it's off to Auckland for the next six or eight weeks and that is the way it has been since February 2009.

When he gets to home number two in Auckland, at Ronald McDonald House, he has a special wave and a smile for the staff who have got to know him so well.

Lochie has had a tough life.

After he was born he contracted viral meningitis and suffered a brain bleed which left him with cerebral palsy.

"After he was born everything was ticking along fine, then he got the viral meningitis," his mum Sarah said.

"He was never expected to crawl, but he has always crawled everywhere flat tack. He's worn his knees out," she laughed.

"It's his main way of getting about," she said, adding the focus now was to get little Lochie walking about more by himself.

He has a small walking frame and a pair of mini walking sticks to help him.

"He's getting there," Sarah said.

"He is a very determined little man and he is progressing well - more than we thought he would and it's all down to the therapy he's getting."

Lochie has been receiving intensive therapy at Auckland's Conductive Education centre, and while it is hard work and leaves him tired, it is having positive effects. As is their being able to stay at Ronald McDonald House, which Sarah said had been as therapeutic as the treatment.

"It is so good here, so good. We could not have gone through this without them."

She said she hoped to extend Lochie's programme in Auckland, which was originally scheduled until the end of this year, through to next August when he turns 5.

But she knows the day will have to come when he has to say goodbye to all the people he had met, and grown to love, at his number two house - Ronald McDonald House.

"He has done so well. He is making a few sounds now and has started saying 'car'. And he has a couple of signs he makes."

Sarah said her "little man" would also be doing his bit for the present fundraising drive which runs until Saturday, and where on that day McDonald's will donate $1 from every Big Mac sold throughout the country to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

"He loves a cheeseburger happy meal," she said.