Children have a brighter future thanks to our donors
The birth of your child should be one of the happiest moments of your life. As a caring parent you will do anything to keep your baby safe from harm. As she grows she starts to roll over, sit up on her own and learn to crawl. But, when you look into her eyes they don’t seem to be looking back at you.
You go to hospital. They confirm your worst fears. Your child is blind.
Your world is turned upside down. The life you had imagined for your child will never be the same. There is so much now to consider, where do you even begin? Everything is different now.
Jenny Holder at work
Oliver’s parents received such devastating news last Christmas. They had found out that he was blind and were struggling to cope with the news. What should have been a joyous time was turning into a nightmare. That was until they met Jenny Holder.
Jenny is a family support worker and is there to help families who find themselves in this situation. Jenny’s job has been funded by previous donations to the Greater London Fund for the Blind, but there are many other families who still need your help.
That’s why this Christmas I’d like to ask you to give so we can recruit another Jenny to help even more families.
How Jenny is able to make such a difference
Jenny is always available on the end of the phone. She will answer parents' questions and will help them come to terms with their child’s visual impairment. She will reassure them that they are not alone, and will help them through everything they need to do post diagnosis.
Having formed relationships with local authorities and other organisations across London, Jenny is able to do her best for them.
When I met Jenny recently she told me all about Oliver’s family and their struggles. Oliver has complex needs, including a visual impairment, and his family did not feel they were receiving adequate support.
Jenny was able to ensure the family home was adapted to meet Oliver’s needs. She also made sure that he received a new wheelchair so that he is as comfortable as possible.
Jenny is also making sure that Mum and Dad get some time to rest. She has arranged for someone to come in overnight to provide respite care. Mum is so grateful for the support that Jenny has provided, and she gives this advice to other parents:
“To parents who might find themselves in this position, I’d say, not to despair. There’s always going to be help out there…they have got a gorgeous child, it’s just that they might need a little bit more encouragement, but there’s people out there like Jenny who can help so not to worry.”
Sadly support like Jenny’s doesn’t come cheap, but I believe it is worth every penny. I hope you will too.
That’s why I’d like to ask you to donate to the GLFB this Christmas. We need to make sure that families with visually impaired children are supported in every way possible now - and beyond to a brighter future.
Here is how your donation could make a difference:
£5 could buy a simple sensory toy for a child to play with
£10 will pay for specialist telephone support for Oliver’s family
£25 will buy a customised novel for a blind child to read
£75 buys talking computer software for a child to use
£200 will produce the first copy of a customised, large provide novel for Oliver to read.
I hope I can rely on you to give a gift of love and hope this Christmas.
