A HEARTBROKEN mum and her severely ill son who flew to America for pioneering treatment are being forced to sleep rough as she struggles to pay his medical bills.

Charlotte and Billy Caldwell, who has a very severe life-threatening form of epilepsy, are having to live in a tent just days after the 11-year-old was discharged from hospital after ending up in a coma.

Devastated mum Charlotte revealed the heart-rending situation on Facebook page Keep Billy Alive – revealing the emergency hospital stay had ravaged their funds.

Charlotte, from Castlederg, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, said: "Due to Billy's recent unforeseen hospitalisation we have huge medical costs to pay plus Billy's medical marijuana treatment.

"To date we have raised enough funds to part pay these costs but it has left us with no funds to sustain our accommodation here.

"My priority as Billy's mummy is to keep his life-saving treatment going. I have to keep Billy alive.

"But something has to give and I have no other choice or option but to forfeit our accommodation so as I can continue to sustain my wee epilepsy warrior's medical needs."

"Yesterday I bought a tent, camping cooker , sleeping bags and basic equipment to to equip ourselves for the unthinkable; homeless in LA.

"Please folks keep us in your prayers as we embark on what is going to be most likely our toughest journey yet."

She told Belfast Live: "Our situation now critical here in America. After much thought this weekend I had to make a horrendous decision. We have had to equip ourselves for the unthinkable; homeless in LA.

"I am doing this with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes. I have appealed to our Health Minister but have had no response."

Billy and Charlotte have been in the US for five months, where he has been seeing specialists and taking revolutionary cannabis oil which appeared to halt his terrifying seizures.

The treatment has been successfully helping reduce the size of the lesion on his brain, which will allow docs to operate safetly.

But two weeks ago he was rushed to hospital after a series of life-threatening seizures – and specialists believe going so long without having one forced his brain into 'hyper-mode', reports the Ulster Herald.

Before Christmas, little Billy penned a heartbreaking letter to Father Christmas asking him to stop his seizures so he can go home to Northern Ireland with his mum and brother.

He suffers from intractable and status epilepsy which means the seizures he suffers can not be controlled by lifestyle or medication.

The 11-year-old hopes to receive surgery not available in the UK which could save his life.

From his hospital bed, Billy wrote to Father Christmas: "I would like you to take my seizures away.

"Santa I do not want to go and live with the angels.

"I want to stay here with my mummy and big bro."

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Belfast Live reported that a specialist in the US said Billy is suitable for brain surgery.

Billy was given little chance of surviving at the age of two-years-old when he was sent home from the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast.

But he's still fighting nearly nine years later.

His family have launched a JustGiving page for his treatment which has raised more than £12,000.

Mum Charlotte and Billy have been staying in Los Angeles where he is under the care of expert Dr Douglas Nordli.

In December Charlotte was told the lesion causing Billy's seizures was too deep to remove using laser surgery.

She said he will now have a "much more invasive and complicated procedure" which will cause speech and memory loss.

Speaking in December, Charlotte said: "It is exhausting and frightening and Billy knows he is in trouble even though everyone around him is so upbeat."

"I'm hoping for a medical miracle and Billy is confident Santa can sort this out.

"It's heartbreaking but we are not giving up.

"If Billy doesn't have the lesion removed, his seizures will continue to worsen and the unthinkable will surely happen, my wee Superhero will die."

The JustGiving page reveals it cost £300,000 for Billy to get treatment in Chicago when he was a toddler, and he had been practically seizure free for eight years.

Charlotte said: “It is hard to believe that Billy is now 11.

"We were told he would barely turn one never mind be alive a decade later.

"The fact he is still here and come so far is even more reason to try and get him the best treatment possible.”

“Billy's medical bills are mounting here in Los Angeles and we desperately need help so Billy can have the treatment to keep him alive. We are in desperate need of help."

You can donate to Billy's appeal by clicking here.

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