Hope at last for mother thanks to YOU MUM HASN’T SLEPT FOR 18 YEARS Our readers fund £899 alarm after NHS refuses to pay
A DESPERATE mum has thanked generous Sunday People readers for giving her the first good night’s sleep she’s had in 18 years.
Lynsay Smith has not slept for longer than an hour at a time since her severely disabled daughter Jaiden was born with a form of epilepsy which could kill her with a fit at any moment.
The single mum has been forced to set her alarm every hour through the night to check on severely ill Jaiden, who is not expected to live past her 20s.
A special £899 alarm would warn of an attack before it happened, meaning Lynsay could get a peaceful night’s sleep.
But despite its life-changing benefits, Lynsay, 34, was denied the vital piece of equipment by the NHS.
Now money raised by People readers has funded the alarm that will let mother and daughter enjoy their precious final years together.
Lynsay said: “This means more than either of us can say that we will be able to live a more normal life and try to enjoy what time we have left together.
“At the moment I spend my days walking around like a zombie because I am so tired but at night I am too scared to sleep in case something happens to Jaiden and I’m not there. I have begged night through – it would be like the best holiday anyone could ever have.
“I don’t regret a single thing about staying up to make sure Jaiden is okay because I love her more than anything but it is like working a full-time job 24 hours a day.”
Lynsay has long prepared herself for the possibility that their treasured years together would be cut short.
And while Jaiden is unaware of the seriousness of her condition, she recently cried uncontrollably at school, saying: “I don’t want to be poorly any more.”
But Lynsay was devastated when doctors told her there was a specialist piece of equipment which would greatly enrich their remaining time together, but she could not have it.
The grip pulse guard trips when Jaiden is about to have a fit and would greatly reduce the possibility of it being fatal.
Lynsay said: “I asked the doctors why they wouldn’t give us something that would potentially save her life and I was told the equipment isn’t covered by NHS funding to be set up in your own home.
“I couldn’t believe it. I am a single mum, living on a minimal amount each a week, £899 might as well be a million because I have no chance of ever saving up that much.
“I will always be thankful to The People for giving this to us. I can’t wait to have a good night’s sleep, knowing my daughter is sleeping safely too.”