It’s been an uplifting few weeks at A’s house – where the 5-year old can now access both floors of his home with ease.
The project for ‘A's New Wheelchair Accessible Lift’ has provided a through floor lift for A, who’s rare condition means he cannot walk unaided. Needing support with most aspects of life, A’s increased risk of strokes and seizures makes other stair lifts unsafe.
As A’s parents explain, there were various difficulties posed before the project went ahead:
“A has little independent access to his home and relies on us to carry him upstairs to his bedroom and bathroom. A through floor lift would open up A's world and allow him a level of independence in his own home – something he has never had before. He would thrive and develop in his own home which is something every child should have the right to do.”
“One of the main challenges we faced caring for our son was moving him up and down the stairs safely, as the bigger he gets the harder it gets to carry him, especially when he’s wriggling, which is often. It was becoming unmanageable and not good in promoting independence for him at home.”
Having raised the funds with the support of Sullivan’s Heroes – the family successfully met the £3,500 shortfall which remained after council funding was awarded towards the lift installation project, as A’s parents explain:
“Sullivan’s Heroes helped by donating £1,000 towards our goal which was almost a third of what we were trying to raise.”
“Sullivan’s Heroes’ contribution, as well as them helping fundraise for additional help, meant we met our target. They were a huge help.”
A’s parents detail the support which Sullivan’s Heroes brought to their family, along with what the charity offers to other families in similar circumstances:
“This is an invaluable service, for situations which can be so hard financially and mentally on families. The help received makes a huge difference to being able to make our home adaptable and help promote our son’s independence as much as possible.”
“We gained a great financial relief as the expenses of adapting the house have been huge and this has saved us a lot of stress. Also, support through the whole process has made it all as easy and stress free as possible.”
A’s parents also give us an insight into the benefits this new installation now brings:
“The new through the floor lift now gives him full independence at gaining access to upstairs and to come back down with his wheelchair, which we have never been able to do. All the controls are accessible for him and he is able to get safely from the ground level to his bedroom easily.”
“Overall, this will promote him being able to move freely within his own home on his own terms and using his own abilities, which is amazing for his mental health and development. It’s also relieved us physically which will have a massive impact on our lives, especially the bigger he gets.”
