Disneyland date proves to be 'overwhelming' event

Families in Florida with the charity Caudwell Children are preparing to return home. Reporter Nicola Irwin, who has been with them, spoke to them about what the future holds and why the trip was so important

WITHIN days of arriving back in England tomorrow, eight-year-old Kieron Sutton will move into his new home.

His dad's two-bedroom house in Fegg Hayes has been refitted with a ground floor extension to provide an additional bedroom and bathroom for the youngster's use.

It will be the first time Kieron, six-year-old sister Chloe and dad Paul have lived together since becoming a single-parent family more than two years ago.

And Paul aged 33, said: "It's been brilliant having the family all together because Kieron is living with my mum and dad.

"He will be moving in with me when we're back. Nan and grandad will be close by, but Kieron is not their responsibility, he's mine.

"Kieron's been so happy here and taking in what's going on. There's been no expense spared. It's just mega."

Paul's mum Carol Sutton, aged 56, of Chell, who travelled with Kieron as well as her husband Ken, said: "We will miss Kieron living with us, but his right home is with his dad and sister."

Kieron suffers from generalised dystonia, a condition which leaves him without full control of his limbs, a disease which affects his brain and severe learning difficulties.

He is one of 25 wish children on a fully-funded Caudwell Children trip to Orlando, Florida.

More than 150 people have made the trip, including charity staff, volunteers family members and medics.

Stoke City fan Paul, who wore his 'A.B. Faye' shirt at the theme parks, told The Sentinel: "Kieron has been on a few rides himself and just laughed and smiled because he's enjoying it.

"It's exceeded all the expectations. Everything has been fantastic and Caudwell Children can't do enough for you with their help and the volunteers.

"How can you say thanks? You can't even put it into words."

Paul added: "At home it's a day-to-day struggle and the weather is also a factor.

"You can't get out and do stuff like you can here. But also the volunteers are here, as well as the staff and the medics, and that is really important.

"They have been to see Kieron and taken some blood samples. "It's peace of mind while we're away, whereas at home you'd have to take him to the hospital. They can sort it out and reassure you."

Five doctors, two nurses and a paramedic travelled with Destination Dreams.

They stayed at the Give Kids The World resort and were on call 24-hours a day to assist parents and carers.

At the parks, they manned a Caudwell Children information point and carried emergency phones in case families needed help.

And Carol added: "I don't want to go home.

"The children have enjoyed it because there's so much colour, and lights and things happening.

"It's like stepping into a story book. All the work Caudwell Children has done means we have been able to lay back and enjoy it. It's perfect.

"Kieron loved the rides he's been on. The children miss out on so much of their childhood but not this.

"Everything is catered for them. Things are a battle at home but not here."

Four-year-old Hanya Sajad, who had a heart transplant aged just 18 months, and her sisters Ayesha Sajad, aged eight, and two-year-old Irham Hussain dressed as Disney princesses, complete with glass slippers and hair in ringlets, at the Give Kids The World Princess And Pirates night.

And mum Lisa McLane, aged 28, of Meir, said: "They loved it. They were standing there and just kept twirling. It made me feel like crying and Hanya's dad Sajad was crying.

"The holiday has been overwhelming. It's been non-stop and it's only when you sit down at night that you think about what's been done.

"Hanya is too excited to understand why we're here, but she knows it is a 'special holiday'."

Hanya is due to undergo an operation before Christmas which will allow her to be fed by a tube into her stomach.

It will alleviate problems she has with her lungs.

While away, Lisa has been able to chat to the mum of a boy who'd already had the operation and reassure her about what to expect.

And she added: "Even if we'd have started saving up for this we couldn't have come until she was much older and I think this is a magical age for Disney.

"You can't say thank-you for something like this and even money can't repay them. I will make sure we help fund-raise for them. At first we thought it would be funded by John Caudwell. We didn't realise how much work it takes from the staff and the volunteers to make the trip possible. We thought John Caudwell simply funded it, but he just pays the charity's administration costs. The charity relies on donations."

Before Lisa had first daughter Ayesha she was so scared of needles that she paid £150 for hypnotherapy to cure her of the phobia. But when Hanya was born it made her think of things differently. "I sat and cried look how stupid I was," she said.

"Here's my daughter at three days old with a sticker saying 'open chest'. Ever since then it hasn't bothered me. I can get through anything.

"People always ask me how I cope, but if I didn't then no-one would do it."