Parents’ touching bucket list for terminally ill toddler

One English family is making sure their son gets the most out of his potentially short life.

Born a healthy baby boy, just after Christmas Zach Parnaby was diagnosed with a rare illness known as Krabbe Luekodystrophy, a terminal disease that will eventually lead to the inability to walk, talk or see.

Doctors say that 20-month old Zach may not live past his fourth birthday.

To help Zach get the most out of his life, parents Lindsey and Ben Parnaby, both 29, have created a bucket list for their little boy to complete. They have set up a fundraiser page to help Zach cross items off his list that include meeting Fireman Sam, taking a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine, going on a boat trip, swim in the sea and geting his own pet dog.

“The things we are generally doing with Zach aren’t out of the ordinary,” mum Lindsey said. “They are things we would have done with him anyway whilst he was growing up but we just have to squeeze it into a short space of time whilst he is aware.”

Of the shock diagnosis, Parnaby said, “I think we were numb. You hear of children being diagnosed, but you never expect it to happen to your own.” However, one month after Zach’s diagnosis, his parents decided not to let the condition limit his life.

"We couldn't sit home and feel sorry for ourselves and be morbid every day because in turn, it would make Zach feel that way," Parnaby said. "We took the stance that if Zach is smiling every day, then that's what matters.

So far, Zach has crossed six items from his bucket list. Parnaby hopes in the future the remaining donations could be used to help families with terminally ill children.

Zach's Bucket List:
1. Find a cure for Krabbes disease
2. For Krabbes disease to be screened for at birth
3. To meet Mickey Mouse - completed.
4. To ride in a fire engine and meet Fireman Sam - completed.
5. To swim in the sea
6. To build a snowman - completed.
7. Go sledging
8. Meet a real bear (I love bear's and this was one of my first words)
9. To meet Santa
10. To ride a bike
11. Meet a famous person - completed.
12. Ride on a red London bus
13. Take a boat trip - completed.
14. Own my own dog - completed.
15. See a waterfall and swim near it if it's safe
16. Take a ride on Thomas The Tank Engine

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