'Please help my family'

FRIDAY, DEC. 21: A young mum of four says she faces Christmas on the street — unless a good Samaritan steps in to help out.

The 36-year-old — who suffers from a series of serious medical complaints and has been unable to work — has already had the power at her rented home cut off.

Now she is unable to make the December rent payment — which, she says, could leave her and her children, who are aged between nine and 17, homeless for Christmas.

The woman’s case was backed by Sheelagh Cooper of the Protection for the Coalition of Children, who appealed for donors to come forward.

Ms Cooper said: “I have known this lady for years and she is absolutely genuine.”

The single parent, who asked not be named, said: “My situation now is I’m inundated with debt and I have physical injuries which are now -chronic as a result of injuries I got at work.

Life has been ‘hell’

“We are desperate — I really feel for my children because they face a terrible Christmas — I have been unable to get proper medical treatment because I have no insurance and no means.

“My life has been hell — sometimes we don’t even have anything in the house to eat. I have incurred debt, but that’s due to illness. It’s not that I haven’t been trying. I hate to ask for help, but I have nowhere else to turn. People have a tendency to belittle people in my position or be condescending — but I’m honestly trying to get back on my feet.”

The woman is taking legal action against her former employers for compensation – but that could take a long time to be decided: “What I really want to do is go to England, where I can get adequate treatment from the National Health Service. But that’s just a dream because I can’t possibly afford it.”

The woman was injured on the job and in 2009 lost her employment because the spinal and pelvic injuries she suffered made her unfit for the role.

The conditions have since degenerated and she is also suffering serious side-effects as a result of medicine she has had to take to deal with the pain.

She said she had been getting financial assistance – but that that had been stopped, although she had appealed the decision.

Sheelagh Cooper said: “It’s a litany of disasters one after another with no real assistance which was sustainable. I don’t remember exactly why financial assistance was stopped, but it shouldn’t have been. This is an intelligent woman who has held good jobs along the way. I’d ask people to come forward and help. It’s Christmas and the plight of this family should touch everybody’s hearts.”

Ms Cooper added that the practice of being arrested and jailed for debt was “barbaric” and should be ended as a priority by the new OBA Government.

Ms Cooper said: “It’s common practice here. I know multiple women who have spent time in prison. It’s usually for bills related to the hospital because they don’t have insurance. And – unlike criminals – they still face the debt when they get out. They go to jail, lose what job they might have and often their children are taken into care.”

• To help, contact the Coalition at 295 1150 or email at [email protected]