Parents of a boy who is hooked up to an intravenous drip for 16 hours a day say they are "so grateful" after a friend's surprise fundraiser generated more than £10,000.

Janine and Allan Whitehead are putting the money towards an extension for their Sittingbourne home, which will “massively” change their son’s life.

Reuben was born at just 24 weeks at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham but was soon taken to King's College Hospital in London after developing a series of complications due to being born so early.

Janine said: “It's crazy when you're in there and you've got a poorly kid that just keeps on getting poorly.

“You're seeing all the mums and babies going home that had come in after you.”

The 41-year-old added: “These babies don't speak and they're in plastic boxes, but he had such a spirit.

“He kept on pulling through and making it. In the end – blinded by pure love – we knew he'd be fine.”

Now, having just turned six years old, Reuben still gets admitted to King’s, where as a tot he spent months at a time.

He has been under general anaesthetic 66 times for different operations and treatments, and hospitalised with sepsis 13 times.

In 2021, Reuben was diagnosed with epilepsy.

He lives with a Hickman line – a long, flexible plastic tube put under the skin of the chest wall to give medicine and take blood – as well as a stoma bag and a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding tube into the stomach.

The youngster is nil by mouth (NBM) and cannot receive nutrition orally, so he has to be hooked up to total parenteral nutrition (TPN) up to 16 hours a day in his cot to provide him with the nutrients he needs.

“Everything we do is to ensure we give him the best day,” the mum-of-two explained. “His care doesn't stop.

“We fall into this false sense of security as well, because he's Reuben and he doesn't know any different.

“He just rocks on and never moans. He’s walking around the house with wires and bags.

“We’re heartbroken by it and he doesn't know any difference; he's amazing. But it can be a hard watch.”

A JustGiving fundraiser was set up by friend Grace Goodger and Allan’s cousin Aimee Benee, who said they wanted to provide a “helping hand” for the family.

At the time of writing, £10,280 of the £15,000 target has been raised.

If you’d like to donate, click here.

On the page, it says: “Reuben is in need of additional space for a specialist bed, bath and other medical equipment as well as space for his nurses to stay with him overnight.

“Reuben’s dad Allan is a carpenter by trade and has begun work on a loft conversion to reconfigure their family home to create the space that Reuben needs and allow for him to be cared for at home, however they have been unable to finish it.

“Allan works as many hours as he possibly can to provide for his family but also regularly has to pass on work due to Reuben’s needs and frequent trips to hospital due to medical emergencies.”

The renovation would involve finishing off the loft conversion for the couple so that their daughter, Amelia, can move into the bedroom on the second floor.

Downstairs would then be extended to include a play area, bathroom and bedroom for Reuben.

The family has applied for a Disabled Facilities Grant, which can be up to £30,000 and is provided by local authorities to help people make adaptations to their homes.

Plans have been drawn up and their grant has been approved, however, they say the money won't be released until they can prove they can pay for the rest of it.

It means they would have to remortgage, but cannot do so until they have completed the loft.

Grace said: “Allan's always been – he probably won't mind me saying this – quite proud and has never asked for help.

“I think there are a lot of people who just think it's just a premature baby and don’t realise actually what's going on.”

“It's all those bits and pieces,” Aimee said. “A height-adjustable bath, which we would take for granted, is going to make a massive difference.

“In the bathroom that they've got upstairs, it isn’t going to fit.

“The thing is, we're all going to pull together. They’ve got a fantastic group of friends who will come and help.”

Grace and Aimee have contacted various businesses in the area who are helping with the cause.

They are grateful to Lorrae Mannering and Axis, McNealy Brown, Sittibuilders and Woodstock Associates for their support.

On Sunday (May 25), Milton Regis Conservative Club is also hosting a charity day to support the Whitehead family.

There will be lots of stalls, a BBQ, competitions and games, as well as a raffle.

Janine added: “I'm so grateful, because we would never have done anything like this.

“You start to realise people can see that we're struggling and he just deserves so much more.

“We see the names of the donations come up and we don't know them. They are just good people who have read our story.”