The McCreight family, Mum Mandy, Dad Davey, and teenage children Ben and Kara, have a range of medical needs and their home has always been completely unfit for purpose.
Mandy, 46, has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Postural Orthostic Tachycardia Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Gastroparesis and she is bed bound over 80% of the time, often being forced to stay upstairs in her bedroom for days at a time.
This is separating her from the family and means she rarely gets to spend quality time with her children, who both have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
Dad Davey, 57, is medically retired but also Mandy and the kids' full time carer.
Their home is not wheelchair adapted and it needs to be to future proofed for the entire family before it reaches breaking point.
Mum Mandy finds the stairs too difficult to navigate and despite being a power chair user, can not currently use it at home. She said she feels "completely isolated" in her bedroom and apart from support every morning and night for half an hour, it’s Davey and the kids.
Son Ben, 16, has a learning disability, Autism and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. He doesn’t like to visit his mum in her bedroom, so they rarely get to spend any time together.
Thirteen-year-old Kara has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and currently has only been able to attend school when her symptoms allow. She has mobility issues, chronic fatigue, she finds the house difficult to negotiate and she spends a lot time in her room.
An occupational therapist accessed the home for a stair lift and a lift but unfortunately, neither where possible, given the current layout of the house.
