
Help Sam Kaye and his family
Please help us raise awareness and funds for a family who have been let down time and time again by the care system and are in desperate need of our support right now.
One of our much loved residents, Ann Kaye, known to many in the area, is the mother and has been the sole carer of her son Sam. Sam is a wonderfully humourous boy who sadly suffered 2 strokes at the age of 4. This led to a brain tumour being discovered deep within his brain stem and given 5 years to live.
Being given the news that her son would only have 5 short years at such a young age was absolutely devastating to Ann and the family, who had to rely on help from Great Ormond Street to manage Sam carefully, where the slightest head injury could result in causing further complications.
With the love, support and care from his mother who has became so much more, caring for him daily, Sam was able to defy those 5 short years that he was given to live.
Sadly, at the age of 19, Sam had a major stroke and was rushed to St. George's Hospital where Sam and his family were given the devastating news that he could have only another 2 weeks or a year at best. Staying by his side, Ann spent 2 weeks in a hospital armchair expecting the worst, and on 2 occasions during those terrifying weeks, Sam very nearly lost his battle.
Those 2 weeks left Sam unable to move, barely able to speak or feed himself and in need of 24 hour care. A loving mother was told that her 19 year old son with very little time left, was to be transferred to a hospice.
Ann decided that Sam's very little time left would be far better spent surrounded by his family, despite the overwhelming difficulties it would entail. This very act of a mother's love for her son, proved vital to enlonging Sam's life but also, it was the start of the system failing both Ann and her son with appropriate support.
In the following weeks of Ann preparing for Sam to come home and be cared for, Sam attended a respite centre, where his care was negligent. He was left alone for most of the day, with no pleasures such as a TV or radio. He was subjected to being left without food for 18 hours every day, and had painful procedures performed on a routine catheter change. He was physically assaulted, emotionally abused with name calling and placed in nappies for hours upon hours so that carers could avoid the task of taking him to the toilet.
During this time, a glimmer of hope was found as Ann was able to have a custom vehicle provided by the DLA (Disability Living Allowance). This was a hugely positive step as this allowed Ann to transport her son as his sole carer. This allowed for Sam to continue going to appointments at the specialised hospital that is an hour's drive away. It also allowed Ann to take Sam out so that he could socialise with his many friends and be with his family. He could enjoy the simple things in life such as taking part in seeing his dog running about and bringing great joy to him. This vehicle became instrumental in prolonging Sam's life and allowing Ann to care for her son and defy all expectations placed on him.
Sadly, as further complications arose, Sam has been in and out of hospital and respite centres for most of his adult life. He has been overdosed, he has been neglected, he has been abused both physically as well as emotionally and has come close to losing his life many times because of the negligence of the system designed to protect and care for him. Understandably, this has left Sam fearful and distrusting of care homes and Ann is worried every time he is placed in the care of others, others who have failed both her and her son several times which have nearly cost Sam's life.
Today, 28 year old Sam, has been in a care home for the last few months due to the current pandemic. Thankfully, his current care home have been to date, very good. But due to previous experiences, this is still causing Sam trauma. His health has detoriated, he is away from his family and his mother, who is his entire world. With the good news that Sam is soon able to return back home, this should be a happy moment in his life.
Unfortunately, the system that has failed Ann and her son, time and time again, have now revoked the custom transport vehicle for Sam. This means that Sam cannot return home, Sam cannot enjoy socialising at a distance with friends and Sam cannot enjoy seeing his dog being walked to give him some joy. Ann cannot take Sam to routine hospital appointments that have extended his life. Ann cannot have her son who has endured so much already, back within her care without the appropriate transport.
The vehicle is being held ransom and will be sold off for parts in a month's time. Ann has only one option and that is to buy the vehicle outright for £12,500 before it is scrapped and thus, directly impacting and risking the chance of giving her son a death sentence.
We are asking for our neighbours and our community to please, help this family to prolong the life of Sam and return some hope back to them in such a crucial time. We are looking to help raise £10,000 to help carry the burden placed on Ann and Sam, by buying and returning this custom made vehicle so that Sam's family can give him the proper care and attention he desperately needs.
Please share this and help others know the story of this incredibly brave and loving mother, and her son who deserves to know what it is to be human. So that he can spend the time that could be cut short at any moment, to be with his family again, to go to life saving hospital appointments again, to enjoy the outdoors again, to see his dog run around playing again, to laugh and smile again, to give him a life that can be enjoyed again.
Thank you.