Six-year-old girl dying of dementia – and now family face being made homeless

12 November 2023 , 22:57

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Phoebe and Hollie Self are looking for a new home in devastating circumstances (Image: MEN MEDIA)

A heartbroken mum whose six-year-old daughter is dying from ‘childhood dementia’ that will leave the youngster bed-ridden and unable to talk now faces being made homeless.

Hollie Self's daughter Phoebe suffers from a rare genetic condition called Sanfilippo syndrome. It means she likely has just five years left to live and will lose her mobility and be fed through a tube as the illness deteriorates.

But the family now also have to deal with the threat of having nowhere to live as the lease on their rented three bed terrace in Hazel Grove, Stockport will run out in April after the landlord announced they were selling up due to financial difficulties. Desperate Hollie is racing to find a new home and is currently on the waiting list with Stockport council - but she isn’t convinced somewhere suitable will be available in time.

The brave mum-of-two also has to look after Phoebe's sister (MEN MEDIA)

She told Manchester Evening News: “It's overwhelming, it's emotional. You just get up and be a mum, that's all I can do. But I don't want it to get to me because I have to protect my eldest daughter. We're stuck in limbo - no one is helping. I haven't got the headspace to deal with everything else as well as this. I don't want to have to start packing the house up and start planning moving schools.

"I don't hold anything against the landlord, he's just amazing. He couldn't be a better landlord. He said he's tried to think of everything to help us but he just can't. I've no idea where we're going to end up. I'm a full-time carer so I can't afford the deposit to buy somewhere and my family aren't in a position to help. I'm not asking to be a priority. I get there are other families whose needs are probably more than ours, but I just need some help."

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The youngster's health has already started to deteriorate (MEN MEDIA)

A GoFundMe account set up to support the pair has already raised more than £18,000 of its £250,000 target with hundreds of donations sweeping in. Stockport council and Stockport Homes said they were 'doing all they can' to find a suitable home as soon as possible.

In a statement they explained: “Unfortunately, at this time there are no suitable adapted homes available. Like many other places, homelessness is at an all-time high and we have an acute shortage of adapted three-bedroom properties - which would be suited to Phoebe and her family.”

Damon Wilkinson