The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
It’s been a difficult few months for the Long Sutton family who before Christmas raised enough money for their disabled daughter Alice Bates to receive a pain relieving bath.
The 11-year-old’s mum Charlotte Bates spent her 40th birthday in hospital last weekend after complications during an operation to correct a slipped disk.
She was left in intensive care following the ten-hour operation last month and also missed Alice’s birthday earlier this month.
Alice experiences daily pains, particularly at night, as a result of her quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy caused by her suffering a brain haemorrhage shortly after she was born and the family raised over £6,000 thanks to your kind donations for a pain relieving bath.
It had been hoped the bath would be in place in time for Alice’s birthday earlier this month, but because of Charlotte’s condition that has not been possible.
Charlotte is currently waiting to be transferred to a specialist spinal rehab ward in Sheffield.
Charlotte said from hospital: “I have been on a child free ward, but Alice has been sending me lots of texts and pictures.
“It is really hard being in here.
“Obviously missing Alice’s birthday was extremely hard for me but she did have a great day at Hunstanton and going in the swimming pool with her daddy.
“Andy is doing a great job taking care of things at home and managing to work a few hours each day to extend his leave. Obviously he’s worried that at some point he may have to go unpaid but I’m channelling all the pain of being away and missing out on family occasions and the worries of what will happen if I take too long to recover into my therapies.
“I’m really pushing myself to do that bit more everyday.
“I can stand using a frame but walking is going to take some time yet.”
Charlotte says her own 40th birthday celebrations can wait until she’s at home with her family.
She’s also hoping that those providing the bath can be patient and it can be arranged to be installed soon.
“There is no bigger incentive than my family to make me push myself,” Charlotte continued. “They need me home and I need to be with them.
“It feels unnatural to not be with them but I know they will take care of each other and help their dad as much as they can.”
