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SOUTHAMPTON MUM PETRIFIED FOR DISABLED DAUGHTER

Mum of a Southampton three-year-old with an undiagnosed syndrome spends every night in fear her daughter is going to seriously injure herself.

Holly Bryan’s condition means she repeatedly bangs her head and feet against the sides of her cot throughout the night, leaving her mum both petrified and utterly exhausted.

Holly, who also has epilepsy and autism, can scream for up to four hours during the night and is impossible to comfort, waking her siblings Chloe, eight and Connor, ten. Her shattered mum, Sarah, is forced to helplessly stand by and watch, as Holly won’t tolerate any attempts to touch or calm her.

Holly desperately needs a specialist bed with high, padded sides to reduce the pain she suffers, and accessible sides so he Mum can get to her quickly in the case of an emergency.

Southampton City Council, responsible for ensuring Holly has equipment to meet her needs, will only provide £1,500 towards the costs of the bed.

In desperation, Holly’s family turned to Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children who delivered a short-term loan of a specialist bed through its Emergency Equipment Loan service to prevent immediate risk of injury.

But Holly needs a bed of her own. Newlife is appealing to local people to help raise the additional £835 to make this happen.

Sarah said: “The loan bed has made life better in so many ways. Holly still hits her head and feet continually and still screams, but I know she’s safe. Because of the loan bed no harm can come to her. Not having a permanent bed to protect Holly is something I can’t even consider.”

Newlife’s Senior Manager for Care Services, Carrick Brown, said: “We would love to help Holly and her family, but we simply don’t have the funds right now so we are asking people in Southampton to make a donation or fundraise to help her, as soon as possible, so she is safe and free from pain.”

There are currently 11 children in Hampshire on the waiting list for £61,471 of equipment.

Anyone who is able to help Holly should urgently contact Newlife on 01543 431444 or email local@newlifecharity.co.uk . To donate £10 text HOBR10 to 70070.  Alternatively you can donate via our website: www.newlifecharity.co.uk/hampshire

Money raised above the amount needed for Holly’s specialist equipment will be used to help other disabled and terminally ill children in need in Hampshire.