Birmingham mum in fight to bring home her disabled son
Apr 13 2009 by Vicky Farncombe, Birmingham Mail
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A DISABLED mum who wants her brain-damaged son home with her says she may be forced to put him in a hospice because of alleged city council “bureaucracy”.
Kaddy Thomas and her three-year-old son Elijah both have Apert Syndrome, a rare genetic bone disorder which affects the head, hands and feet.
In May 2007, Elijah underwent an operation at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to have his skull expanded to relieve pressure on his brain. But the bright youngster caught an infection which left him brain damaged.
Since then, Elijah has been living at The Children’s Trust in Tadworth, Surrey, which is renowned as one of the best brain-rehabilitation units in the country. But after nine months of therapy, the trust has said he must move out to make way for another child.
Kaddy, aged 41, who works as a part-time receptionist, said she desperately wanted Elijah home with her but her privately-rented house in Gibbins Road, Selly Oak, was too small for his equipment.
She said she had been told Birmingham City Council had no adapted houses available and the only solution was for Elijah to be placed in Acorns Children’s Hospice.
“I don’t want him to go into a hospice, I don’t want him to live his life in institutions,” she said. “I love him and I want him home with me so we can be a family.”
Kaddy said she was now in a Catch-22 situation because she and Elijah were listed as Surrey patients and cannot receive financial support for their accommodation here.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Kaddy. “Bureaucracy is keeping me and my boy apart.”
But Birmingham City Council said it cannot support people living under a different authority. A council spokesman said it was “a complex case” and they were trying their best to support the family while searching for a solution.
They said they would liaise closely with Surrey but could not act as a guarantor for people to get housing in a different authority.
“Respite care at Acorns Children’s Hospice is an option, while we address her accommodation needs,” he added.
