This week, 52 Lives would like to help a young girl from London called Michelle, and her 7 week old baby girl, Hope. We heard about Michelle from a health worker, who said she is in desperate need of help.

Michelle suffers from severe learning and behavioural problems. She has ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and behavioural conduct disorder, and she has a cognitive developmental age of a 9 year old.

Michelle has had a traumatic upbringing. Because of the sensitive nature of her circumstances, wecan’t share the details of what has happened to her. But it’s shocking and heartbreaking.

Since having Hope, Michelle is coping incredibly well with being a parent, and is lucky to have the support of her mum. Due to her learning difficulties, Michelle isn’t able to live alone with Hope so Social services have put in place a Child in Need plan that requires her to keep living with her mum for the foreseeable future.

During a home visit, her health worker discovered that Michelle and Hope don’t have a bedroom, as the flat is overcrowded. So she sleeps curled up on a 2 seater sofa each night, with Hope in a moses basket beside her.

Being a new mum is exhausting enough as it is, without having to sleep on a tiny sofa in a crowded flat. Michelle needs proper rest….and a bit of nurturing herself.

Any support you can give will help to change her life for the better.