JESSICA'S BRIGHTER FUTURE FUND

Hi, my name is Kerry and I’m a Mum on a mission!


My beautiful daughter Jessica Rose was born prematurely 23 years ago, weighing in at 1lb 9.5ozs.


 As a result of her early arrival Jessica has many difficulties including cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus  (fluid on the brain) and is registered blind.
Jessica uses a wheelchair and needs 24 hour care and support in everything she does. Jessica needs specialist equipment and support to help her in every situation.

Jessica is an absolute joy and she never fails to brighten our day with her smiles and giggles. She has a wicked sense of humour and real spirit. 


Jessica has had many surgeries throughout her life, too many to count. Brain surgery has been Jessica’s most recent surgery but complications and infections meant many operations in the space of just a couple of months and a stay in intensive care. 

Picture of Jessica by her little brother then aged 6.

Jessica never ever gives in and blows us away with her fight and resilience. Jessica is an incredible young lady who has taught us a lot about life and how precious life is. 

Jessica is now an adult and more than ever she desperately needs specialist equipment to support her needs, major adaptations to her home and support for the future. 

Jessica’s difficulties mean specialised equipment is absolutely essential to continue to support her basic everyday living needs. Jessica needs supportive seating, a specialised bath, a specialised standing frame, a specially adapted bed, hoisting facilities, a safe space and wheelchair accessibility to be able to function in every day tasks within the home.

 As Jessica has grown the equipment to support her grew too but unfortunately our home didn’t grow which means essential equipment has taken over Jessica’s living space. This means Jessica has no safe space to get out of her wheelchair in our home. Jessica can shuffle on her bottom a little but even this little bit of independence is being taken away without the safe space to move.  

These are very uncertain times and we have not yet been able to achieve funding support for the replacement of failing equipment and adaptations that have been desperately needed for many years. Cuts to services and budgets means it is even less likely we’ll get the support of funding for essential everyday equipment or adaptations to meet her needs now or in the future.

Far too much of my time and energy has already been taken fighting so hard to get the support, equipment and services for basic needs that we all take for granted. No service or equipment from childhood to date has been provided without a battle, an appeal or a complaint. 

Jessica is now 23, and I cannot dwell on the negatives of funding and cuts any more but need to use my energy to look at what positive differences I can to try to make.

I need to make the difference for Jessica.

I really need to do something positive for my incredible young lady to make a difference to her life and her future.

I am hoping that maybe some of you may be able to support me by sponsoring my first, of hopefully many challenges.

My initial challenges will be sponsored walks.
The destinations we arrive at all having meaning to Jessica.

* A walk from Southport to Ainsdale in 2016
Every week we access a hydrotherapy pool at a school in Ainsdale. The pool gives Jessica freedom from her wheelchair and allows her the movement she simply cannot access on land. This helps with her physio stretches and helps to maintain Jessica’s movement.
Jessica has been splashing in the pool since she was a little dot. CHALLENGE COMPLETE.


* A walk from Southport to Space in 2017
Sorry not the actual ‘Space’, a little too challenging , but a wonderful sensory centre in Preston that has been part of Jessica’s life for 18 years. Jessica can truly be free here in the soft play environment with its stimulating visuals to help support her visual impairment. The Space Centre is warm and welcoming and offers Jessica positive interactions with the environment around her.  CHALLENGE COMPLETE.
https://www.facebook.com/thespacecentre 

https://www.facebook.com/thespacecentre/videos/1047228541965291/

* A walk /ride to The Walton Centre 
 We will walk / ride to the Walton centre again from Southport. Jessica has had lots of recent surgery here and the amazing nurse specialists in the hydrocephalus team have been a part of Jessica’s life supporting us when we’ve been in hospital.


I will hopefully embark on swimming and roller skating challenges too! 

 I also hope to:

* Take part in the Liverpool Santa Dash 
                                            December 2016
http://www.btrliverpool.com/santa-dash-enter 
                                CHALLENGE COMPLETE

 
* To complete the Mad dog in Southport
                                              February 2017
                           http://www.maddog10k.co.uk/
                                 CHALLENGE COMPLETE

 
*And get through the Colour obstacle Rush 
                                                  Aintree July 2017
                                       CHALLENGE COMPLETE
 

Please bear in mind my level of fitness currently is zilch!
 
I will be looking for new challenges and encourage you to send me ideas. Within reason though I do still need to be alive at the end of it! 
 

Jessica's little brother and sister too will take on their own challenges to support their big sister. These two little monkeys are so loving and supportive of their big sister and want to help too.

You will be able to check out any event photos and updates here:  https://www.facebook.com/Jessicas-Brighter-Future-Fund-837929563002605/?ref=bookmarks

 If you feel up for a challenge too why not join me?

I thank you so, so much in advance for any support you are able to offer.

I will get there Jessica Rose, I promise. X