Caring Sophie is nominated for an award
ATEN-YEAR-OLD girl has been nominated for an award recognising the way she helps care for her disabled two-yearold brother.
Sophie Nesbitt, who lives with her family in Offerton, has been nominated for the sibling award at the Contact a Family Awards.
Her brother, Jack, has a myelin deficiency in his brain which causes global development delay, and Sophie was nominated for the award by her mum Tina who says that Sophie is always trying to make Jack happy, is never impatient with him, and has coped amazingly with the situation.
Tina said: “Sophie is the most fantastic big sister to her brother Jack. Jack was a very noisy baby due to reflux and he would cry inconsolably throughout the day. This didn’t phase Sophie in the slightest though and she continued to play with him and cuddle him and do her very best to cheer him up.
“Later when Jack learned to smile and laugh, Sophie would take it upon herself to make sure Jack cracked a smile before she left for school.
“She’s talked to her school friends about Jack and his condition and even campaigned for her school to choose Contact a Family as their chosen charity.
“When she gets home from school she will read Jack a story and give him an uncontrollable fit of giggles. They are the best of friends and Sophie is extremely protective of him.”
Contact a Family is a national charity that helps to support families with disabled children regardless of their disability or mental condition.
Tina said she found the charity when she could not be given a full diagnosis and name for her son’s condition, and they enabled her to get in touch with other families and mums who were experiencing similar things, helping her feel ‘a lot less isolated’.
All the nominees in the Contact a Family Awards will receive a certificate congratulating them on being nominated before the judges shortlist a set of finalists who will be invited to the awards ceremony at the House of Commons on January 24.
Amanda Batten, the CEO of Contact a Family, said: “I was touched to learn about Sophie’s story and what a difference she makes to her family. We really can’t believe the number of wonderful nominations that families have submitted.”
For more information call 0808 808 3555 or visit cafamily.org.co.uk.