GRENFELL’S MIRACLE BABY
Survivor feared for child after having two miscarriages
A Grenfell Tower survivor cuddles the tot she feared she would never have.
Maryam Adam, 40, who had miscarried twice, was pregnant when she fled the blaze. She said: “He’s a miracle.”
went up so quickly - it was like petrol had been put in it.”
Maryam could only watch in horror while firefighters fought to extinguish the flames as they swept up the building’s flammable cladding.
The following day, the couple were sent to a Premier Inn, where they lived for the next five months.
Maryam often slept on the sofa as she struggled with a slipped disc in her back.
She was only moved to a one-bed temporary flat at the end of September when she was eight months pregnant, and says she is still waiting for a suitable permanent home to be offered.
Having suffered a difficult pregnancy, Maryam was largely unaware of which of her friends were still alive.
Until just weeks ago, she thought a good friend was dead, having been too ill with her back complaint during her pregnancy to try to contact her.
She also had no way of getting in touch with friends initially as her phone was destroyed in the fire.
Maryam said: “I was so worried maybe she didn’t make it and I was looking for her. And now I found her and she’s alive. I’m so happy, but many others didn’t make it.”
Maryam also wanted to thank Mr Kebede, the man whose fridge freezer is thought to have started the blaze.
The last time she saw him was knocking on doors alerting neighbours.
She said: “I think he saved some lives. I haven’t seen him since and don’t know where he is, but I’d like to thank him.”
Maryam and her family are now desperate to move on with their lives in a place they can call home. She said: “I want to make a home for my child, but we are waiting. We don’t know when it will happen.”
Of 208 Grenfell households that needed to be rehomed, 54 have been found a permanent place.
Somalia-born Maryam, who arrived in London 20 years ago, added: “Lots of survivors, who started off very strong, are now depressed. Maybe more depressed than at the time of the fire, because their lives cannot get back to normal. “
Maryam has viewed accommodation arranged by the council, but claimed the properties did not fit her family’s needs.
However, the authority claimed the family accepted the offer of a permanent home “which they have accepted and is free for them to move into today”.
A spokesman added: “We’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure everyone directly affected by the Grenfell tragedy has a permanent home.”
Maryam disputed the claim of an offer and said she had yet to sign a tenancy.