A distraught Douglas mother has put out a plea for anyone with ground floor accommodation available to rent from the end of July.

Gosia Adamiak, 33, is seeking a temporary home for her 10-year-old son, Rafal, when he leaves Alder Hey Hospital at the end of July following a second major hip operation.

Rafal has Down’s Syndrome and multiple health problems.

When he was one he was diagnosed with leukaemia and subsequently spent three years receiving weekly respite care in Rebecca House. His developmental age is 4-18 months and he has no speech.

He is about to undergo his second hip surgery in Alder Hey and Gosia urgently needs to find accommodation for him when they return to the island.

Gosia said: ’Rafal has needed hip surgeries included bilateral pelvic osteotomies and bilateral femoral osteotomies.

’His right hip surgery was on May 2 and took over nine hours. His left hip surgery is on Friday (June 7).’

The little boy has been in a hip spica cast since his first surgery and will need to be in the cast again after his second surgery.

Then he will have a two-week rehabilitation at Alder Hey, where he and Gosia are at present.

Gosia told the Examiner: ’The care at Alder Hey hospital is fantastic.

’Rafal’s orthopaedic surgeons are the most caring doctors I ever met in my life.’

She and her husband, Adam, are renting a property in Douglas but the bedroom and bathroom are all upstairs so it won’t be suitable for Rafal.

Gosia added: ’Rafal’s dad is a full time taxi driver and working hard to earn money for our family.

’While we are in Alder Hey, patient transfer are providing him tickets so once a week he can come to visit Rafal and give me some respite.

’You can imagine how difficult it is looking after Rafal.

’I’m doing everything around Rafal by myself and he is struggling with strange people around him.’

At the beginning of January, Alder Hey wrote to Noble’s Hospital informing them that part of Rafal’s health care plan should include ground floor accommodation.

The letter said: ’It is anticipated that Rafal will require prolonged rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation

’The paediatric orthopaedic consultant has explained to his parents that he is unable to predict the final functional outcome from surgery and the length of rehabilitation.

’It is anticipated that it will be many months before he regains functional mobility and it is possible he may not achieve the level of mobility required to use stairs safely.

’The suggested plan is for a transfer back to the ward at Noble’s with a plan for full discharge home once the physiotherapy/nursing team are happy that his care needs can be met at home by parents with the support they need in place.

’Expected needs for care at home : - height adjustable bed on ground floor and a care support package to assist parents to meet Rafal’s needs including some respite care.’

Gosia said: ’I applied for a Douglas Council house (a bungalow) and my application has been approved but unfortunately there is no bungalow available.

’I have been in touch with the Manx Housing Trust but they also don’t have anything which would meet my son’s needs. The property would need to be in the Douglas or surrounding area to be close to Noble’s Hospital.

Gosia says they are currently paying £875 in rent which is a struggle but they could stretch to a little more.

Struggle

She added that her landlady is understanding and has offered to be flexible about their current lease if Gosia finds somewhere else to rent.

She said she has written to everyone she could think of, including the leader of Douglas Council and Health Minister, David Ashford.

Noble’s Hospital has offered Rafal a bed when he returns to the island but Gosia is worried about the risk of Rafal picking up infections if he stays in hospital any longer than necessary: he is already on regular antibiotics to prevent him getting chest infections.

Gosia said: ’I don’t understand why the Isle of Man government cannot provide temporary accommodation for him.

’There are going to spent lots of money for paying for his stay at Nobles Hospital.’

We contacted David Ashford for a response and he told us that help would be available from his department: ’Once a suitable property has been found the family would be able to contact occupational health who would be happy to look at helping with any adaptations required, subject to the landlord’s permission.’

Normality

Gosia said: ’I would love to have a home where I can take my son so he can finally have some normality after such difficult time.

’I also know that a home environment would be much better for him for his rehabilitation rather than a hospital.

’Due to his developmental delay and behavioural problems it would be much easier to cope with him in a place where there are his things which he is familiar with.

’As a mother I want the best for my son and I’m now desperate and don’t know what else I can do.

’This is why I decided to share my story with the newspapers with a hope that maybe this way I will get help. There is nothing else I can do now.

’I know this island has wonderful people and I can only pray that we will rent a beautiful place for my son and at some point he will be able to walk and have fun while running and kicking a ball.’

She added that due to the amount of equipment Rafal that needs, the family need to find a bungalow with a ’spacious room’ to provide him with space for his rehabilitation.