When Sarah gave birth to her third child Callum eight weeks prematurely she had no reason to worry. Despite the early delivery he was fit and well and she and husband Mick took him home to join their two other children. But just six weeks after the birth Sarah woke one morning to find Callum in distress:

"We took him to hospital in our own car because the doctor said there was no time for an ambulance, " recalls Sarah. "It's normally a 10-minute journey but it only took us four minutes. He died twice and was revived. In the first five days his lungs collapsed and he had to have blood transfusions. He had a meningitis-type viral infection and suffered brain damage. Three months later we were told he had cerebral palsy."

Last June new Home-Start volunteer Val was matched with the family. She recalls standing nervously at the end of their street: " Suddenly the door opened and Mick said - 'Are you from Home-Start? Come in and have a cup of tea.' It was a good start but I was nervous. I'd never handled a baby with so many disabilities but Sarah just put him in my arms with a 'there you are then'. She was as nervous as me but it was fine - he's a beautiful boy. We hit it off right from the start and working with the family has given me a real sense of achievement. I've been very lucky." Sarah and Mick consider they are the lucky ones: " Val is a God-send, " says Sarah. " Callum used to scream and cry most of the day and night and I couldn't put him down. Just to have Val's support for a couple of hours is fantastic. She helps us all in so many ways"

"They have been through some very difficult times, " says Val, "but they are a lovely family and I look forward to every visit."

Sarah and Mick were hit hard by that early trauma and with the challenge of bringing up a son who couldn't sit up, walk or talk and was visually impaired, whilst trying to lead as normal a life as possible with their other children.

Back to Top