Seven year old Jessica from Co.Down has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is blind

Cash for Kids support children like Jessica all across Northern Ireland and we hope you can support our work by donating to Cash for Kids Day 2018.

100% of the money raised will go towards supporting local disadvantaged children living in Northern Ireland.

You can text ‘FIVE’ or ‘TEN’ to 70808 to donate £5 or £10 to Cash for Kids. Must get bill payers permission, see www.coolfm.co.uk/cashforkids for full T&C’s

Jessica’s Story

Jessica is seven years old has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, blind, chronic left hip dislocation, scoliosis and is tube fed. Despite her challenges she remains a happy and content little girl who thrives on one-to-one interaction.

Donna, Jessica’s mum said:

“Last year she was diagnosed with Cranial Diabetics Insipidus which is an imbalance of sodium levels and it is quite scary as a simple cough or cold can be fatal for her. She is always either house bound, at hospital or occasionally manages a day at school, that’s what our daily life is like.”

“I felt scared and nervous; I wasn’t sure what the future would hold for her.”

“With a life-limited child, you don’t know how long you are going to have them. With Jessica we just try to maximum life for her and try to improve her quality of life.”

“Jessica is complex, normal toys and activities aren’t feasible for her so we brought her sensory equipment. Upon setting them up it become clear that it wasn’t safe for her to use. If she was to have a seizure she could hit her head of the equipment. She won’t engage with equipment with an adult she likes to fully explore herself so it wasn’t safe for me to leave her sitting there. She needed soft padding to surround the equipment”

“I applied to Cash for Kids to see if I could get some support for that. Thankfully, Cash for Kids came back and granted her the equipment, which was just fabulous. Cash for Kids is quick and simple. Most parents think applying to a charity is quite daunting but Cash for Kids is there at the front helping local families to enhance children’s lives. What they do is they reach out to children and ensure their quality of life is improved”.

“She brightens up the darkest days and my life won’t be the same without her. She has made me who I am and I will continue to thrive for me, for her and my whole family, she said.”

Cash for Kids provided Jessica with sensory soft play padding. Having a soft play area to surround her bubble tube gives her a safe and secure area to relax and build skills.

Cash for Kids Day 2018

This Cash for Kids Day we will be raising as much as we possibly can to support thousands of disadvantaged children all over Northern Ireland.

We will be celebrating our work over the last ten years while focusing on the current support needs of disadvantaged children and young people in Northern Ireland today.

The funds raised on Cash for Kids Day will help to provide a brighter future as well as create opportunities for children and young people to fulfil their potential. We want to help make a real difference to the lives of these children and their families.

If you'd like to help and be part of Cash for Kids Day see www.coolfm.co.uk/cashforkidsday

Jessica Audio Piece