Parents aim to take their three-year-old son to Los Angeles for treatment to give him the chance to play with other kids

But Charlie was born with hypotonia and dystonia – sometimes called ‘floppy baby syndrome’ – which means he can’t sit or walk and suffers muscle spasms.

That’s why his mum and dad, Nikki and Richard, have launched a fundraising bid to raise the £20,000 needed to take him for life-changing treatment at the Napa Center in Los Angeles.

The money would cover the treatment, flights, insurance and living costs for the four weeks they will be in the US.

Charlie Ramage with dad Richard, mum Nikki and little brother Theo.

Nikki, 30, said: “Hopefully we’d like to go May/June time next year if Covid allows. Nothing will cure Charlie’s condition but it could make a huge impact on what he is able to do.

"I think it will help him a lot in being able to sit because they focus a lot on muscle tone on the stomach and they have lots of therapies that they don’t have here.

"I’d really like to see him sit so that when he goes to nursery he can play with other kids rather than be stuck on the floor because he can crawl about a bit and roll about but I’d love him to be able to play with the other kids.”

Happily, Charlie does have the support of his 21-month-old brother Theo, who dotes on his big brother and even helps to feed him.

Charlie Ramage and his little brother Theo.

Nikki added: “Theo is his little best friend and he helps Charlie with everything, helps feed him, give him juice and goes and gets him stuff. Charlie tries to copy him, even though he can’t really do it. Theo stands and looks out the window and Charlie is now trying to pull himself up on the sofa so he can look out the window.

"At the Napa Center they do a combination of physio, occupational therapy and intensive speech therapy, which will really help now as he doesn’t speak because the muscles in his mouth aren’t strong enough, so they need to be trained to speak.

"If it does prove to be as incredible as we are thinking it will be we would make every attempt to return to the US for future treatment.”

The family's appeal has already raised more than £9,000 of their £20,000 target. To find our more, and donate, click on – https://just4children.org/children-helped2021/charlies-therapy-dream/