Mum’s plea to bring Jo home
A CALDERDALE mum has launched a campaign to raise £35,000 to bring home her daughter home from Holland.
Anita Balmforth has set up fund raising page in a bid to get her daughter Jolene back to the UK to take care of her.
In 2011, at age 35 Jo developed a growth on her spine. This was detected too late and two operations were unable to prevent permanent paralysis.
After spending two years in hospital she had to leave her home of 13 years and move into an apartment for people with physical health needs.
In 2015, after extensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy Jo was able to visit her mum but while in the UK she developed sepsis, leading to multiple organ failure requiring 14 months in and out of hospital.
Mum Anita said Jo was receiving regular support and visits from her grandparents who also live in Holland, but these visits are less frequent given their age and own health conditions.
“My hope at the time was for Jo to live with me so that I could care for her, but unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control this was not possible and Jo had to be repatriated back to Holland directly from hospital in the UK to hospital there, before returning to the apartment and continuing her rehabilitation.
“I visit Jo as often as I can and have taken long periods of time off work unpaid to be there to support her, but I am no longer able to financially sustain this. I considered moving back to Holland to support Jo, but finding a home, and a new job at the age of 63 proved to be impossible for me.”
To get Jo home she would need transporting by staffed ambulance over land and sea with necessary medical equipment on-board and her wheelchair needs to be transported separately via air,
Anita said the cost of the ambulance and staff provision alone has been quoted at £17,000.
“Once she arrives, there are further costs involved in finding a suitably adapted home and providing a 24-hour care package to give her back a quality of life, whilst in the comfort of being around family who can help her to gain back some independence.”