Mum lands dream home for disabled son

The mother of a disabled teenager says being offered a new council home has stopped him from needing to go into care.

Marie, 49, and her son Sonny, 16, have been offered a home near Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, after being on a West Lindsey District Council (WLDC) waiting list for 15 months.

She said: "This was the difference between Sonny going into care or staying at home. I was never going to give up."

WLDC said it was "delighted with the outcome for the family".

Sonny is non verbal and has a life-limiting, metabolic disorder called homocystinuria.

In addition, the teenager is registered blind and has learning difficulties, autism and epilepsy.

Sonny is expected to have a ground-floor bedroom, with a separate wetroom, which his mother said would make a real difference. Currently, he has to be carried up and down stairs, she explained.

Reflecting on their current situation, Marie said Sonny is "like a prisoner in his own bedroom".

"It's going to make a massive difference to Sonny's quality of life," Marie said.

Marie said she received a call on 6 May from WLDC to sign for the new council house after she "seriously thought it was never going to happen".

The family are hoping to move into the new house by July.

A spokesperson from WLDC said: "Officers from a number of teams across the council alongside the housing provider have been working hard to secure a suitable property for the family.

"WLDC always seek the best outcome for all households, some are more complex than others so can take a little longer but this case is an excellent example of the hard work paying off and the family securing a suitable new home."

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