52 Lives

#73 MIchelle and Hope

Request: Sofa bed, children's wardrobe, giftcards

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.

What we need

  1. A sofa bed: New or second hand, so Michelle can sleep properly. If you can help with this, please complete the form below.
  2. A children’s wardrobe: Michelle has nowhere to store Hope’s blankets or clothes, so this would be a big help. If you can help with this, please complete the form below.
  3. Gift cards: For a supermarket (Tesco, Morrisons and ASDA are nearby) to help with food and nappies, and Mothercare to help with baby things. 

    Buy a Tesco Gift Card here or Buy a Mothercare Gift Card here 
    and send it to:

    52 Lives (Michelle)
    PO Box 329
    Hampton, TW12 9DF

    Digital gift cards can be emailed to jaime@52-lives.org

What We Did

We had so many wonderful offers and messages of support from people all over the world who wanted to help make Michelle and Hope's life better. This is what we have for them so far...

- More than £750 in gift cards - for Tesco, Argos, Morrisons and Mothercare, to help Michelle with food and things for Hope. Thankyou so much to Martin, Wendy, Caroline, Tina, Jane, Hayley, Debbie, Ann Marie , Louise, Dan , Rachel , Sara, Shirley, Amanda, Sara , Julia, Helen, Shaun, Nicky, Mariana and all the anonymous donors who have sent giftcards so far. And we are still receiving more every day.

- A £1000 Argos gift card - so Michelle can buy a brand new sofa bed, wardrobe and whatever else she may need. This was donated by a wonderful group of friends who decided they wanted to do something to change Michelle and Hope's life. Scott, James, Richard, Rich, Clive and Howard - you are such a kind bunch of people and we are so grateful for what you have done. Michelle has never had anyone show her this much kindness before. You're amazing!

- Some lovely new baby clothes ... and bits and pieces from a few kind people who posted them anonymously.

Michelle and Hope don't know what you have all done for them yet, but I will be taking everything to her health visitor this week and will keep you posted!