A six-year-old Evertonian who had his leg amputated as a baby enjoyed “a day he will remember forever” as he was presented with a 2019-2020 Season Ticket by Blues striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
On a day of surprises for young Max, he also spent an afternoon designing a special personalised sleeve for his prosthetic leg with Toffees ace Calvert-Lewin as part of Everton’s Side By Side 2019-20 Season Ticket Campaign.
Watch Calvert-Lewin surprising Max by clicking on the video below or watch via our official YouTube page.
Max was born with a rare condition called amniotic band syndrome, which can restrict blood flow to limbs of unborn babies and restrict their development.
Many of Max’s limbs were affected by the condition and he had his right leg amputated at seven weeks old.
“After that, he was given a prosthetic about six months later,” explains Max’s dad, Chris. “He’s had them ever since, but he does struggle to keep them on because of infections that he keeps getting, so he spends a lot of time on crutches.
“It affects his hands, as well and his other foot. But he just doesn’t let it stop him.”
Indeed, talented footballer Max plays in his age group for the England amputee team.
As he grows, he has to be fitted with longer prosthetic legs, at which times he also gets new bespoke sleeves to wrap around them.
The Everton-mad youngster has had Minions and Spiderman patterns in the past and spoke of his joy after working with Calvert-Lewin and Everton graphic designer Sharelle Hunt to create a special Toffees-themed sleeve at the Club’s Royal Liver Building headquarters.
“I’ve got my name on it, and pictures of Jordan Pickford, Richarlison and Dom,” Max said.
“My favourite part was adding Dom’s picture to the sleeve.
“It’s just been amazing. Pickford is my favourite player, but Dom is second now!”
After the sleeve design was complete, Calvert-Lewin presented an astonished Max with an Everton Season Ticket for the 2019-20 campaign.
Max and his dad will be able attend every Toffees match for free at Goodison Park next season.
“I think I might cry a little bit when we go… It’s amazing,” added Chris.
“It’s really generous of Everton and we can’t thank them enough.
“He is absolutely buzzing about the whole day. He loves his sleeve, I think he will be doing signed copies of it!
“He’ll be talking about this for weeks and weeks…probably years and years.
“And through what we’ve done here, he’s going to donate his old legs to children in Africa. It’s amazing that other kids are going to benefit and he’s over the moon to do it.”
And after receiving his Season Ticket surprise, Calvert-Lewin and Max celebrated in style, the striker teaching him the moves to his ‘lawnmower’ goal celebration.
“It was the first time I’ve done it since the Huddersfield game last season,” said Calvert-Lewin “I said I wouldn’t bring it out again - so it’s been a special day all around!
“It’s been great, Max did such a good job with the sleeve and to get the Season Ticket is just a great surprise. Hopefully I can score few goals in front of him.”
Everton 2019-20 Season Ticket Deadline: Thursday 4 April. Find out more – and how to join the waiting list – at evertonfc.com/sidebyside.
