Just over two weeks ago, OnTheWight reported on the shocking news of a family, with a severely disabled daughter, who have been deemed homeless.
Three year old Chelsea Turner’s parents have been trying to get re-housed for over a year as their current accommodation is no longer suitable in which to care for Chelsea, who is severely disabled from Cerebral Palsy (see background).
Naturally, we asked the council for a comment on the situation. It took them almost two weeks to reply to our request. The sent the following.
IWC: “Doing all that we can to support them”
An Isle of Wight Council spokesperson said:
“We are aware of this family’s situation and are doing all that we can to support them in to a more suitable accommodation in line with due processes.
“Unfortunately, there is a limited availability of suitable accommodation on the Island that meets their specific needs.
“We encourage them to continue to bid on homes using our Island HomeFinder service, in the hope that we can find suitable accommodation soon.”
Online petition
A petition calling on the Government and the Isle of Wight Council to step in and help the Turner family has been created on the Change.org Website.
It has gathered over 600 signatures already. If you want to add your name, you can sign it here.
BBC coverage
The plight of the Turner family reached a wider audience over the weekend when featured on BBC South Today.
If you missed the report, you can catch up below.
Family search for a better home
Three-year-old Chelsea Turner has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, is blind, and has a condition which makes her grow much faster than other children. Now her family says the lack of suitable council accommodation means even washing is a struggle because the family's bathroom is upstairs and there is no room for hoists
Posted by BBC South Today on Saturday, 31 October 2015
Chelsea’s story
Chelsea was born eleven weeks early on 25/02/2012 weighing a tiny 2lbs12oz. When Chelsea was born she suffered two bilateral grade four IVH (bleeds on her brain), this has resulted in Chelsea having extensive brain damage which has shown on her MRI.
Because of these complications they have affected Chelsea in lots of ways: She is not growing properly due to being unable to eat and drink orally, she also has evolving four limb Cerebral Palsy, epilepsy and last of all her sight is very poor due to the brain damage.
Chelsea’s Wishes
Because of all the above Chelsea’s family decided to set up Chelsea’s Wishes to raise funds for a sensory nursery to help improve her quality of life.
They know she reacts to lights and want to work on this to increase her vision and provide a safe stimulating environment; they also want to buy other equipment that can suit her size to help her in other areas.
They are part of the charity “Tree of Hope” Charity No 1149254 who are overseeing and collecting donations on her behalf.
Follow the updates on the Chelsea’s Wishes Facebook Page.
Image: © Chelsea’s Wishes
