Peter CroweThe family of a young woman with severe disabilities says she still relies on a special bed that was made for her when she was eight years old.
Taylor Crowe, 19, was born with severe brain damage, quadriplegia, cerebral palsy and epilepsy and needs beds to prevent her from falling out and injuring herself.
Her mother, Emma Crowe, is currently fundraising for a special enclosed bed in the family home as well as a portable bed after being denied funding for the latter from the local council.
Anglesey County Council has been asked for comment.
Emma said her daughter was eligible for respite care, meaning the family could request help while taking time off from her caring duties, but without a portable bed, Taylor was at risk of injury outside of the home.
“It would be really great to have a break,” Emma said, adding that she and her husband Peter would like to spend time with their two sons, ages 11 and 16.
“We haven’t been able to do anything with our other children and enjoy time as a family all these years,” she said.
Emma said she hoped that providing Taylor with respite care – and a bed to meet her needs – would allow other family members to spend time together.
“If we wanted to go to Alton Towers with the boys, Taylor would be taken care of,” she said.
Emma added that she did not want to appear to be complaining, but said the situation was often challenging, particularly when it came to finding time for the couple’s two sons.
Peter CroweShe said she was hesitant to accept help for Taylor for a long time because “she’s my baby.”
“I was afraid to leave her with other people, but I have to think about my other children,” she said.
The family has now set up a fundraising page to try to raise money for the beds themselves.
“If I had the money, I would go out and buy everything myself,” she said.
On the GoFundMe page, the family said doctors did not believe Taylor “would live this long,” but she “defied all odds from day one.”
Emma said caring for Taylor comes with “constant challenges,” including eating out with the whole family because many restaurants don’t have wheelchair access.
