Surprise home makeover as brave Tipton boy Josh battles leukaemia

More than 20 volunteers have given up their time to completely revamp the youngster's family home in Tipton.

Mother Louise Smith burst into tears when the transformation of the house in Bloomfield Road was unveiled yesterday.

The 32-year-old, who is also mother to Courtney, 12, Connor, 10 and two-year-old Thomas, said: "I cannot believe it, it is so different. It is just unbelievable to see the time that has been put into this.

"I've just never had the time with Josh being so poorly.

"It really is amazing. It is just really good of them to spend their time to come and do this. It is unbelievable, I never ever thought I would come back to something like this. It means I haven't got to worry."

Josh was first diagnosed with leukaemia when he was two and underwent three years of treatment. He was in remission for two years and in October Louise, her former partner and Josh's father Andy Jackson, and the rest of the family received the devastating news that the cancer had returned.

"It was heartbreaking," said Louise. "To do it once and now for Josh to do it again is just heartbreaking."

He is now receiving intense chemotherapy at Birmingham Children's Hospital and was allowed home for a few hours yesterday to see the makeover. It is hoped he will return home next weekend.

Before the revamp the youngster had made one stipulation – that the wallpaper of his beloved Liverpool Football Club remained in his bedroom.

And he was delighted with the result after the room was revamped with a new bunk bed and curtains.

Sister Courtney's room has been decorated with girly pink and white spotted curtains, while she too has new furniture and a new bed, and Louise's bedroom is now a sanctuary with purple curtains, bedding and a new armchair to relax in.

The house also has new carpets, laminate flooring in the living room a new bathroom suite, wallpaper, curtains and blinds. The bulk of the work has been done by Sandwell Council and 14 apprentices, aged 16 to 19 with many of the furnishings donated.

The revamp followed an appeal put out on Josh's Facebook page, Joshua Battling Cancer, by family friend Alison Bullock.

Miss Bullock, 36, a police officer at Old Hill, said: "I have really got to know the family well over the couple of months, and just really wanted to do all I could to help. They have all been through so much, and their story really touched me.

"Louise has so much to cope with, that she does not have the time to spend on the house. Her focus has to be on Joshua, and so I just wanted to do what I could to make her home a better place for her and the children to be.

"She has to be back and forth to hospital, and she has the other children to look after, and she works. I don't know how she does it really." She added: "I originally just wanted to freshen the house up, but people have been so generous that I have been able to do the whole house.

"I have just been amazed at how many people have come forward to help me. We have had quite a few companies come forward, and donated furniture, and money, and we have had lots of people just popping over to offer help. It has been fantastic."

Miss Bullock also praised the work of the apprentices. She said: "I would not have been able to do it without them." She added: "Joshua is a massive Liverpool fan, and he asked us not to touch his Liverpool football club wallpaper because it was put up by his grandfather Edward Smith."