![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_Jacob-Rimmer-pic-5.jpg\")
Jacob Rimmer(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\nJacob Rimmer will be seeing Santa this weekend “for one last time”, his family said<\/p>\n
16:45, 27 Nov 2025Updated 16:51, 27 Nov 2025<\/p>\n
Jacob Rimmer(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n
A boy has been given months to live after being diagnosed with a debilitating condition. Jacob Rimmer, from Netherton<\/a>, was described by his mum, Gemma Rimmer, 33, as a normally \u201chappy little boy\u201d, however has been left in severe pain due to the disorder.<\/p>\n The 10-year-old is particularly close with his dad Kevin and his two brothers, Joel, 12 and Joseph, two. His family said he has struggled with his health<\/a> from a young age and when he was just 72 hours old, he stopped breathing<\/a>.<\/p>\n Jacob was diagnosed with non-ketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH), a rare metabolic disorder<\/a> which causes breathing difficulties and seizures. He also went on to be diagnosed<\/a> with epilepsy and cerebral palsy.<\/p>\n However over the past year, his condition has worsened and the family noticed he was in more pain than usual. Last month, the family were told Jacob had gastrointestinal dystonia, a debilitating condition which causes gut failure. Symptoms include severe pain, retching and vomiting.<\/p>\n As a result of this diagnosis, the family have been told by doctors that Jacob only has a few months left to live. Mum Gemma told the ECHO<\/a>: \u201cHis guts are failing now. He\u2019s not absorbing his medication and he\u2019s in a lot of pain.<\/p>\n \u201cWe got the diagnosis fully last month and were told he had around three months (to live) but they can\u2019t give you an exact date.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is asleep most of the time. He has these choking episodes so he\u2019s exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n The family have been left devastated by this news, and Gemma added: \u201cIt\u2019s really difficult. He\u2019s normally a happy, bubbly little boy who doesn\u2019t let anything get in his way.<\/p>\n “He idolises his brothers and his dad. It\u2019s heartbreaking that his brothers have to experience this.\u201d<\/p>\n Jacob is now preparing to go into Claire House children\u2019s hospice. Before he goes there, Gemma issued an appeal this morning on a local Facebook<\/a> page to ask for a Santa to come around so Jacob could have an experience with Father Christmas.<\/p>\n Within hours, the visit had been booked.<\/p>\n Gemma said: \u201cWe did have Santa booked for next Saturday but Jacob won\u2019t be able to make it. We wanted him to see Santa for one last time.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s amazing that the community\u2019s come together and we\u2019re going to have one last time as a family of five with Santa. Claire House have been amazing too.”<\/p>\n Gemma also wants to raise awareness about Jacob\u2019s condition. She added: \u201cI found out about it from another lady whose little girl had it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m happy to help if it helps another mum to talk about it. There’s not many people out there you can confide in.”<\/p>\n![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_Jacob-Rimmer-pic-4.jpg\")
Jacob Rimmer (centre) with his dad Kevin and his two brothers, Joel and Joseph(Image: Supplied)<\/p>\n