Battle for seriously ill Abbie won

Parents of a seriously ill toddler from Staffordshire have finally won their campaign to transform their home for her needs, following a U-turn by council bosses.

Sheryl Lewis and Peter Phillips were originally refused funding to convert the loft of their two-bedroom semi in Cannock Chase into a bedroom for their poorly two-year-old daughter Abbie. They said that the youngster, who suffers from the debilitating brain condition Leigh's Disease, needed the bedrooom so she had her own space in the home.

And now the council has agreed to fund the bedroom at the property in Chenstall Road with a disability grant.

Abbie's mother Sheryl said the news was "the best Christmas present the family could have wished for", which would improve the quality of their lives.

Abbie requires round-the-clock care and a carer who stays with her one night each week to give her parents, who also have an 11-year-old son, a break.

Sheryl and Peter both sleep in the conservatory when the carer stays despite Peter working long hours as a butcher.

"It's been a long and difficult road for us but we were determined to get some help," said Sheryl.

"We will hopefully be able to convert the loft into a bedroom for Abbie. We may be able to get a lift put in at a later date. It means that we can use our own bedroom every night.

"The carer can now stay with Abbie in her own room.

"We can all get on with providing the best care possible for Abbie."

Steve Shilvock, Cannock Chase Council head of environmental health, said: "After a site meeting at the family's home, a scheme has been agreed that meets with everyone's approval.

"This will involve a loft conversion and adaptations to the existing bathroom in order to provide Abbie with suitable and accessible bedroom and bathroom facilities," he added.

"Work was carried out at the property in August to provide ramped access and we are pleased to reach a satisfactory conclusion for the family over the current scheme. We wish them well for the future," he said.