When a child’s sibling has a condition or illness, it can be very tough on them. There are feelings of powerlessness, of guilt, and of course, the desire to protect them.
So one nine-year old UK boy decided to take the problem of a lack of funding for his brother into his own hands, and wrote a letter to the local council asking for their help, writes The Mighty.
J’s brother has epilepsy and cerebral palsy. His family recently contacted their local council to ask if they could supply them with a ceiling track hoist, so he could sit on the couch with the rest of his family.
However, sadly their request was declined, so mum Rachel Wright sent a heartfelt letter to the council, explaining why they should reconsider their ‘difficult decision’.
“I know you aren’t a baddie and you have your own struggles, ones I know nothing about. I’m not trying to create an ‘us and them’,” she wrote. “I honestly wish you all the best, but thought it might be helpful if I expressed the impact these decisions have on real families like mine. One day I might write and let you know what a “difficult day” looks like for me.”
And after telling her son J about the council’s decision, he became upset, and then angry, and with his mum’s support decided to write a letter of his own to the council.
(Note: all misspellings are left intact)
Dear ___ Council,
My mummy has told me that you won’t let my famaly have a houst in our living room so my disabled brother can sit on the sofa. I heard you said it cost to much to install but from leaving the EU don’t we have lots more money? (It seems the propaganda reached Year 4.)
He is very special to me and we are all uneaque we sould have the right to sit with him. As well as this he is getting heavyer and my mum and dads back are getting weaker. Taking away our happy memerys will be reasting on your soulder.
Sincerearly J
Rachel has posted the letter, and hopes it will go some way to convince the council to have a change of heart.
“I hope they give him the courtesy of writing back,” she wrote. “I’m not expecting a change of heart. But once again, I hope this highlights how decisions made by professionals around a table impact lives, not just of disabled children but of those who love them.”
We hope it's good news for this family, and we applaud J for trying to help his brother. Hopefully his voice will be heard.
