Family left ‘broken’ as bed bugs bite at home
AFAMILY has been left ‘broken, sleep deprived and traumatised’ after falling into £3,000 of debt thanks to a bed bug infestation.
Gill Grimsley and her family, who live in Macclesfield, are still putting their home back together following the discovery of the bugs on December 18.
After her daughter had complained about an itchy rash, Gill had taken her to the GP to be checked out. The GP raised the possibility of bed bugs and this was confirmed when Gill returned home to find an infestation on her daughters’ bunk beds. She said: “The horror I felt quickly turned to panic and then guilt. The next day we enlisted the services of Cheshire Rentokill who listened with sympathy and advised us to prep the room for their arrival two days later.
“It all got worse when we found them in our brand new bed, and the evidence in our little boy’s room.
“The job became massive and we again had days of work to prep the rooms for treatment.”
Christmas came and went for the family and still the issue was not resolved.
The children slept on camp beds and Gill and her fiance slept in the lounge.
Just as Gill thought the problem had been solved, they found one bug left under their sofa.
The family had to be split up at this point with the children staying at their dad’s house and Gill and her partner checking into a Travelodge.
The hotel bills, Rentokill bills and loss of furniture has left the family with a £2,915 debt to pay off.
Gill said: “We are broken, sleep deprived and traumatised.
“We have lost expensive furniture and bedding. The upheaval and emotion turmoil has been immeasurable.
”Christmas was completely ruined, the poor kids.
“However, we are not ashamed to talk about this as firstly we need help.
“And secondly I don’t want another family to go through this.
“I urge you all to research prevention and detection of these things and to get in touch with Rentokill immediately should you find anything.
“We still have a long way to go and need to put our house back together.”
The family is attempting to raise money to clear the debt, anyone wishing to donate can visit www. gofundme.com and search ‘Grimsley, Ingham, Press Bed bug nightmare’.