THE mother of a four-year-old who has been left blind after suffering brain damage is calling on couples to strike a pose to help fundraise for her son's treatment.

Oliver Johnson was struck down suddenly in February, suffering a number of seizures, and after being rushed to hospital was found to have meningoencephalitis – both meningitis and a swelling on the brain.

Despite being told he may never walk or talk again, mum Suzanna Johnson has not given up hope after the youngster will recover especially as he has started saying a few "garbled words".

She is looking for couples to pose for a 1940s themed calendar to raise funds for possible life-changing treatment abroad.

She said: "I have a few couples signed up and some places for photo settings, so I am looking for about six more married couples – so that the love can come through in the photos."

The 35-year-old mum-of-two hopes to picture the 12 married couples over the coming year and produce 600 copies of the calendar to sell.

She said: "I will be taking the pictures and my idea is to do pictures such as a pretty little cottage where the wife is at home with the dog or the children and the moment the husband comes back from the war as they are waiting at the window."

After knocking doors, several people have offered their homes and picturesque backdrops and also Oxfordshire Home Guard has offered to help with costumes.

The project is still looking for women's 1940s costumes and sponsorship from local business for their name on a page in the calendar.

Since Oliver was taken ill in February – just two months after little sister Isobelle was born – both mum Mrs Johnson and dad Michael Johnson have been visiting the youngster everyday and planning fundraising in between.

Mrs Johnson is hoping to set up a charity called Building Oliver's Bridges and want to raise £150,000 for specialist stem cell treatment being developed in the Dominican Republic currently.

She said: "I think Oliver finds it all very confusing at the moment, one day he will be very smiley and the next he will be miserable.

"He gets upset when he hears some things that he used to be able to see and now can't, as he is blind in one eye and partially blind in the other.

"He will hopefully be home in November as he will soon move to The Children's Trust centre in Padworth for four months of rehabilitation before heading home.

"It is scary, a mixed feeling because we really want him home but it is going to be life-changing and we just want to be able to do everything we can for him."

The family is also looking to rehome their six-year-old Border Collie Tilly as they say it is not fair to be unable to give her the attention she deserves.

If you can help with the calendar, costumes or Tilly, contact Mrs Johnson on suzannajohnson30@gmail.com