Three-year-old Jake is in a wheelchair after he suffered head and spinal injuries in a car accident on April 24 - a head-on collision that took the lives of an elderly couple in the other car.

Jake’s mother, Sarah O’Meara, rushed to the scene of the accident and has been by her son’s side at Sydney Children’s Hospital ever since.

She said when it comes time to take little Jake home to his family in one to two months' time, the white Volkswagen Multivan will be perfect.

‘‘I’m just so thankful to the Illawarra and Shoalhaven communities which have really got behind us and raised funds so we could have a vehicle which is big enough to transport Jake and his wheelchair,’’ she said.

‘‘He’s still paralysed from the belly button down, so he’s a paraplegic, and he also cannot control his trunk due to back injuries and we don’t know if he’ll need another operation.

‘‘He’s slowly getting better and is learning to sit up and wheel himself in his wheelchair but doctors cannot say if he’ll ever walk again.’’

Family, friends and South Coast Equipment – where Ms O’Meara’s stepdad works – organised a fund-raiser at the Portofino function centre on August 29 to raise money for medical expenses and equipment.

The community’s generosity paid for the van which Ms O’Meara picked up from Southern Classic Cars on Thursday.

‘‘Jake had his first visit home last weekend and he loved it, but it also made him realise the things he could do before that he can’t do now,’’ Ms O’Meara said.

‘‘But he’s a little soldier, he’s got the biggest heart and I’m very lucky to have him still – I have to stay strong for him.

‘‘I’m better able to do that thanks to the support of so many people and I can’t wait to pick him up for his next home visit in the new van.’’

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