Mum’s bid to raise cash to help young daughter walk
AMUM is determined to raise £35,000 to help her young daughter walk despite the sudden loss of her fiance, who passed away last year.
Jennifer Faulds gave birth to twins Ella and Aaron 26 weeks premature.
Ella was diagnosed with diplegic cerebral palsy at two years old and uses a walker to get around.
She is hoping to have selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery early next year but £35,000 is needed to cover the specialised physiotherapy the youngster will need after the operation.
Jennifer, 45, has recently relocated to Bearsden, where her mum lives, after the sudden death of her fiance Alex Williams, 47, in May last year.
The couple were just about to move into their dream family home in London with their twins.
Jennifer said: “Alex had heart problems which were being monitored, but his hospital check-up just before he died was cancelled due to Covid.
“One day he went round to his old flat and his brother found him dead with the TV still on.
“I realised I would need more support, especially with Ella’s surgery coming up, so once I’d checked that her needs could be catered for here, I cancelled the house purchase and have temporarily moved in with my mum while I look for something to buy.
“People have been incredibly helpful – I recently bought Ella a special trike but it was in Portsmouth and the delivery charges I was being quoted were shocking.
“The Home Removals Company, who looked after our move from London to Scotland offered to bring it up for free – even picking it up from Portsmouth.
“Ella is a typical four-year-old who likes Paw Patrol and PJ Masks and loves putting on shows for us with characters from these programmes. She also loves horse riding with Riding for the Disabled.
“Her brother Aaron is very sweet and gentle with her, bringing her things that she can’t easily get for herself, for example.
“But it is frustrating for her not being able to do everything he is able to do and while she will never be able to do everything he does, the operation and following physio may allow her to walk independently and enable her to do so much more.”
Following the operation, Ella will need private physio up to five times a week for at least two years.
The family are supported by Tree of Hope, a charity which helps families fundraise for children like Ella with healthcare needs.
Gill Gibb, Tree of Hope CEO, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Jennifer in her fundraising and wish her and her family all the best.”