A break from normal routine with family holidays

We found out when I was 17 weeks pregnant that Louis had Spina Bifida, so when he was born it meant that his spine didn’t close properly and you could see his whole spinal column.

How Family Fund helped us

“We first heard about Family Fund through the Spina Bifida association in hospital with Louis when he was born. The first grant was a break away and we went to York for a short break in a little cabin. It was brilliant for us just to have a break after everything we had been through and to recharge and feel like a normal family, it was brilliant.

“Family Fund do such great work and are a huge support to families like us. If they can help, they will. I don’t think people should feel there’s a stigma attached to it really, no one wants to be in a position where they are required to apply for these things but if the help is there, take it.”

“We’ve had other holidays which have always been a huge help as well. If Family Fund didn’t exist, I think things would have been more stressful. We would have had less opportunity to do family things with the kids. Just getting a break from the normal routine, it doesn’t matter where you go. You don’t have the doctors’ appointments or the physio, it’s just a chance to be a family and not think about those things. You come home feeling really positive.

“Family Fund also helped us with a Freezer. Ours broke and at the time when Stephen was back in education, we couldn’t afford to replace it. I know I can have the food in that the boys like now.

Louis said that recently Family Fund helped with a PlayStation. “Now that I have the PlayStation I can become an E-sports gamer and I can play with friends and my brother.” Louise goes on to say, “We can play on quizzes and games together as a family. When you are not as physically active as your peers it gives you a way of socialising.”