Report by

MHARI KELLY

FOR 13 years the Jones family managed to look after their severely disabled daughter, Leah, without any help at all.

Leah has cerebral palsy. She has to be tube-fed, she cannot walk or talk, and an alarm sounds up to eight times a night because she has difficulty breathing.

She is now 16 and up until three years ago Alan and Gill Jones looked after Leah every day at their home in Dobells Road, Northwich, without any form of a rest.

That was until they were thrown a lifeline by Hope House. And now they want the whole world to know just how marvellous the charity is.

Hope House provides respite care at its hospice in Oswestry for children who are terminally ill.

Gill works at Moulton Primary School as a teacher's assistant during the day, when Leah attends Russet School, in Weaverham.

"We had gone years without a proper break and finding Hope House came at a time when Leah's condition had deteriorated," said Gill.

"She had a lot of problems eating and had to go on to gastronomy - where a tube just drops down food into her tummy and bypasses her throat altogether.

"Leah also had an awful lot of problems with her spine and she used to wake up frequently during the night with breathing difficulties.

"So when she started going to Hope House, it provided us with a bit of time to relax and we knew we didn't have to get up in the night."

Leah also enjoys herself at Hope House, where she can take part in therapeutic play with paint and sand, and where she has physiotherapy and a session in a hydro pool.

Alan, a firefighter in Northwich, added: "Hope House is perfect for Leah. It's a fantastic place and we would like people to support it."

Just a few months ago, Hope House was in a serious financial crisis, but it is now almost back on track.

However, the hospice - which provides eight beds for children to stay over on a rota basis to give their carers a break - must raise £100,000 every month to maintain its 24-hour medical care for all who attend.

Clare Bedford, spokesman for Hope House, said: "We have 200 children on our books, 20% have cancer and the rest have a wide range of terminal illnesses.

"We also provide aftercare to families of the other 63 children who used to attend Hope House but have now died.

"But we get less that 5% of our money from the NHS and we have to fundraise constantly.

"Without help from the public we would not be able to offer this vital service to families like the Joneses.

"If anyone can help, no matter how small, we would greatly appreciate it."

If you would like to make a donation, fundraise for Hope House, or find out more about the hospice, Clare can be contacted on 01244 315224.

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