Family of chronically-ill teenager offered free accommodation

University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) Charity has offered the family of a chronically ill teenager four months free accommodation.

Hayley Pugh is a parent of Joseph who, poorly since birth, has undergone a liver transplant at 17-years-old at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

She said: “Joseph is autistic, has a mild learning difficulty and also suffers from PTSD. He has had various health problems from birth and has had numerous stays in hospital with many surgical procedures.

“In late September last year, he was admitted to Telford hospital and due to his poor health was then transferred to the QE Birmingham in October to await a liver transplant which luckily he did.

“Up until the transplant, and due to Covid restrictions, we as parents had to share his care, spending two days at a time with him, with the other parent travelling to and from our home in Wales a round trip of around 120 miles. ”

They are just one of the families to use the charity 's Home away from Home appeal, which helps provide patients and families with free accommodation near to UHB 's hospitals, keeping families together during difficult times in their lives.

For patients and their families, visiting the hospitals can be a stressful enough experience without the added pressure of trying to find somewhere to stay to be near a loved one.

UHB Charity provide these homes away from home to alleviate the stress of finding accommodation whilst visiting a loved one.

Ms Pugh added: “We got the keys and didn't really know what to expect. Maybe a simple place to make a cuppa and put our heads down for a little while. But when we walked through the door our eyes lit up. It was a real home from home. We were able to rest and recuperate, to 'recharge our batteries ' for what we knew would be an important period in our son 's recovery.

“To be able to get a good night's sleep, to be able to cook our own meals, launder our clothes, have a shower and have some 'me ' time was so lovely and comforting.

“We look back now and realise that we were barely functioning before having the cottage. It was our salvation. It was such a big part in our son's healing process, helping keep him safe. ”

Find out how to support more families like Hayley 's.