Dear Mr Johnson
DISABILITY can happen to anyone, at any time. An accident, illness or, in our daughter’s case, being born disabled.
In 2013, Elisa, was born with brain damage. When she was three, I gave up work as an IT analyst to care for Elisa full time. My wife never completed her degree and we both devoted our lives to caring for our daughter.
Carers save the economy £132billion per year. Elisa needs around-the-clock attention. With this comes a great deal of medical equipment, all of it mains powered. Her life is dependent on this equipment. Her bedroom looks more like a hospital room, with only sparse decorations to let visitors know that this is the room of a nine-yearold girl. Electrical toys, used to provide her with enrichment, are no longer used. We ask the school to charge some of her equipment. We have tightened our belts but there are corners we cannot cut; Elisa’s life is dependent on us being able to pay our bills. Something that is now harder for us to do. There are families who will have to make a choice between heating and eating, for us we must make a choice between heating, eating and being able to give a safe and healthy home for our child.
We are asking for you to help make our lives easier. We are asking you to help us continue to care for the most vulnerable children in society.
We are asking that the £200 rebate be made into a non-repayable grant for disabled households. This will give a lifeline to families.
We have and will continue to make sacrifices for our daughter. But we know with all our decisions, we must consider what is best for her. And she needs her equipment. She needs a warm home.
Sent on behalf of Elisa and Melody