Dialysis dad kept warm by daughter’s hugs
A DAD hooked up to a kidney dialysis machine faces an energy bill nightmare, but says his young daughter keeps him warm with blankets and cuddles.
Ian Copete, 41, says Lyra, nine, is giving him the heat he needs after their energy bills rose from £150 a month to £400.
It has left them with no choice but to leave the heating off until December in their small two-bed flat, and use heat from the oven when it is on.
The primary school teacher, from High Wycombe, Bucks, has suffered from chronic renal disease since he was born, and has had four kidney transplants.
Due to NHS cost-cutting measures, he can only do dialysis for the minimum-required 12 hours in hospital a week, rather than the 20 hours he needs.
He has to choose between dialysis at home at huge expense to stay healthy enough to work, or not working.
Ian said: “It’s terrible but I almost feel lucky to have had the condition all my life and I’m used to how I feel. Others may feel shock and most cannot work.
OVEN
“We have big thick curtains, we leave the oven open after use and use the dryer to heat our house and dry clothes.
“We should be able to have the heating on but we can’t afford it. My daughter Lyra will bring me blankets, make me a hot drink and give me a cuddle. She’s been amazing.”