Mum and disabled daughter ‘living on a knife-edge’ as costs soar
A SINGLE mum struggling with her disabled daughter’s energy costs says she is ‘living on a knife-edge’ over soaring prices.
Adele Ingham is a full-time carer for her 13-year-old daughter Molly, who was diagnosed with Batten Disease three years ago and has no vision or motor skills.
Due to the severity of her illness, the teenager relies on specialist equipment which needs to be switched on at all times – meaning the family have seen their energy costs treble in recent months.
Adele, from Stalybridge, says the rising costs are a ‘massive, constant worry’ in her life and she is even losing sleep over the ordeal. “We’ve had to make cutbacks on food and putting fuel in the car which sacrifices days out,” Adele, 41, said.
“For me and Molly, we have the option of filling the tank and going out for the day or making sure we have enough money to cover the bills. Especially the trips out, that’s something that is so important because we don’t know how long Molly has left. This disease is very unpredictable.
“I have anxiety anyway so it’s really testing me and making me feel very anxious. I’m not sleeping very well and I’ve lost an awful amount of weight and I just feel sketchy a lot of the time.”
The family have two wheelchairs, two ceiling track hoists, a through-floor lift, two suctions machines, an electric bed and electric chairs which take 12 hours to charge. Molly’s bed sheets need to be washed twice a day, meaning Adele also relies on a tumble drier. “We do have Sky TV because Molly has lost her eyesight with this disease,” Adele said. “All she has is her hearing and with Sky and being able to access Disney and all the things she used to love, she can remember from when she was able to see and enjoy life like every other child her age.
“Molly doesn’t have anything else. She can’t play with toys any more or walk around, it’s something really paramount in order to keep her going. It’s just so hard.”