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Video: Parents create haven for disabled Larry

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Tom and Barbara Scott describe looking after their disabled son
Larry as a full-time job.

The five-year-old needs round-the-clock care for a rare
form of cerebral palsy, Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome, thought to
affect only 26 people in the world.

To make his life, and their own, easier they have spent the past
three years converting a garage at their home in Quantock Drive,
Ashford, into a hi-tech bedroom and bathroom.

Larry’s new room features an electronic bed which can move to
support his body, a mobile hoist, and a moveable bath.

Ramps have also been installed throughout the home.

It has been a long journey for Mr and Mrs Scott, who have had to
cope with medical problems of their own, as well as rising
construction bills and care fees.

They even had to sell many of their possessions to finance the
scheme.

But the finished conversion has made the stress and hard work of
the past three years worthwhile.

For Mr Scott, 72, the changes have made a big difference. He
said: “The garage was just a normal dark and dingy garage before.
We have had to do a hell of a lot of work.

“The new bed is amazing, it moves in any direction. The hoist
will save us some back-breaking work and the bath is great, it
moves up and down. Larry loves it, he kicks and kicks at bath time,
there’s more water out of the bath than in it.”

Mr Scott recently spent five weeks in hospital with a
life-threatening condition while after Larry’s birth Mrs Scott, 44,
suffered from post-natal depression and a nervous
breakdown.

Talking about the many people who helped with the conversion Mr
Scott said: “These people kept us sane. The builders from Balls
Contractors were amazing, absolutely amazing, they went way beyond
the call of duty as did Derek Knight from Harding chartered
surveyors.

“Social Services were brilliant too, they get a lot of stick but
they have done a great
job.”

The family also thanked Wyvern School in Great Chart and
Home-Start, a national charity that helps parents look after young
children.

Mr Scott said: “When you have a son like Larry, no one tells you
exactly what to do, you have to find out for yourself. We have had
parents in a similar situation come to us for help and they have
just sat on our sofa and cried.

“We are fighters, and we want to fight not just for Larry but
for other people in a similar situation.”

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