This week, we’d like to help a single mum caring for 2 children with disabilities, as well as their older sister, who is a young carer.
Teresa has two boys, aged 6 and 7, and a teenage daughter. The boys are both autistic with severe learning difficulties and are non-verbal.
The boys’ dad was involved in using and selling drugs and was abusive to Teresa, so she left and had to live in a hostel with the children. They then stayed in supported accommodation for a little while before being allocated a council house.
Both boys are in nappies and need constant supervision and care, so Teresa only ever gets a few hours of sleep.
Their social worker said: “The boys are always on the go, consistently displaying distressed and hyperactive behaviour. They are always throwing and breaking things around the house, hitting, and punching. Their sleep is very disturbed and sometimes they sleep for only a couple of hours a night.”
Teresa said: “I spend most of my days cleaning up after them. People around me don’t realise how difficult my life is as I tend not to say anything… I feel embarrassed that I can’t work anymore but my life is dedicated to my children.”
The boys have broken their bed frames and Teresa can’t afford to keep replacing them, so they now sleep on mattresses on the floor. We would love to buy the boys sturdy beds that they can’t break and some special outdoor play equipment to help them burn off energy in a safe way. They managed to get a trampoline from the Family Fund charity, but there is so much more they need.
We’d also like to provide some gifts for her daughter. Teresa said: “I know life is difficult for her too. I feel like I’m always stretched so thin and wish I could spend more time with her.”
And finally, she hasn’t asked for anything for herself but we would also like to send Teresa some things for herself as well.