So this is a quick post to let you know that we will be in ITV surprise surprise tonight at 7pm. Obviously I can't go into details at this point so please all tune in And see what Holly had in store for us.
We have also launched a brand new web site today for Isabella which has mums diary section in so I will probably start updating that more than the blog. You will be able to see how life is changing for us and Isabella and how the fundraising is going. Please all check it out its www.isabellasfund.co.uk
About Me
- Isabella Grace
- My name is Isabella grace i am Six years old and i have a rare chromosone disorder, it doesnt have a name so not much is known about it.I have two holes in my heart , epilepsy which i struggle with especially in the winter. I am also registered blind and am unable to feed so i am fed by a machine. Despite all this i am a very happy little girl and have started smiling and giggling although people are still trying to figure out what makes me laugh. I am very delayed but i can hold my head now and roll onto my side in the last couple of weeks i have started sitting for over an hour on my own which is amazing although mummy still finds it hard as i normally have to be carried every were and i am getting very heavy but i like being carried as its extra cuddles.xx My family are amazing are are all working hard at the minute to raise £30,000 so that i can go to America for intensive and specialist physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. The hope is that one day i will take my first step or eat my first chocolate button. DONATIONS CAN BE MADE USING THE PAYPAL BUTTON OR BY SENDING IT TO DC 3017 CHRISTINE BENNETT CAIT BRENTWOOD POLICE STATION or e mail us for further info
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Saturday, 3 November 2012
Sorry it's been so long I have been struggling
Sorry it's been so long since I have wrote anything. We have had a lot on and have been away for our good friends wedding. Isabella was a little bridesmaid and looked lovely. Although she preferred the disco and really came into her own when the music started think the rest she found a bit boring lol.
I think the other reason I haven't been in is that I always try and be positive and I have been struggling keeping positive. The fundraising is going great but it just hit me that I can't provide for my daughter and its a really hard thing to accept that you need help. But the truth is we really do, many of you know that we are trying to raise £30,000 for Isabella's therapy what you might not know is that we are also trying to get our home adapted for Isabella we will hopefully receive a grant towards the cost of some of this but we still need to raise probably an additional £20,000 to get the adaptions done. At the minute we are carrying Isabella upstairs to her room and trying to bathe her in a normal bathroom as we can not install any hoists as it will all be changing and the rooms aren't currently big enough to fit them the older she gets the more difficult this is getting and the more strain its putting on my back. I have just found out from the council who do the grants that we have to get the application in very quickly otherwise they will withdraw us from the application process, the problem being from the point they approve the grant we have to have all work finalised within twelve months and there is the problem we don't have £20,000 and we can't get a loan or mortgage our property any more so the fundraising pressure has just gone crazy. As well as this we have had to reduce the amount of physiotherapy for Isabella as we were paying £1000 a month and the money was disappearing quickly do we have had to reduce to once a week.
Hope this explains a little about why I haven't been in I have needed some time to get my head round everything I need to do and provide for my baby whilst at the same time working.
Any way my motivation has kicked in and we will get everything Isabella needs because she is an incredible little girl who touches so many people and enforces what's important in life..... Family.
Love you all and thanks so much for your support it keeps us all going
I think the other reason I haven't been in is that I always try and be positive and I have been struggling keeping positive. The fundraising is going great but it just hit me that I can't provide for my daughter and its a really hard thing to accept that you need help. But the truth is we really do, many of you know that we are trying to raise £30,000 for Isabella's therapy what you might not know is that we are also trying to get our home adapted for Isabella we will hopefully receive a grant towards the cost of some of this but we still need to raise probably an additional £20,000 to get the adaptions done. At the minute we are carrying Isabella upstairs to her room and trying to bathe her in a normal bathroom as we can not install any hoists as it will all be changing and the rooms aren't currently big enough to fit them the older she gets the more difficult this is getting and the more strain its putting on my back. I have just found out from the council who do the grants that we have to get the application in very quickly otherwise they will withdraw us from the application process, the problem being from the point they approve the grant we have to have all work finalised within twelve months and there is the problem we don't have £20,000 and we can't get a loan or mortgage our property any more so the fundraising pressure has just gone crazy. As well as this we have had to reduce the amount of physiotherapy for Isabella as we were paying £1000 a month and the money was disappearing quickly do we have had to reduce to once a week.
Hope this explains a little about why I haven't been in I have needed some time to get my head round everything I need to do and provide for my baby whilst at the same time working.
Any way my motivation has kicked in and we will get everything Isabella needs because she is an incredible little girl who touches so many people and enforces what's important in life..... Family.
Love you all and thanks so much for your support it keeps us all going
Friday, 5 October 2012
I hate computers !!!!!
Sorry it's been do long but as you will have guessed, our laptop has broke. It's amazing how much you depend on it. Will put a proper update on soon as writing this on my phone and its not the easiest thing to do.
Brownstock was awesome anyone who hasn't been to this local festival should Definately check it out great for the family and even had a disabled toilet. They raised over six hundred pounds for Isabella which was great.
Some time has passed since the walk and I am now in the middle of planning the next challenge, tony (Isabella's step dad) and are good friend nick will be rowing the Thames at Easter this is a huge challenge considering neither have been in a kayak yet. I guess there is no point doing a challenge if its not difficult. We are nearly
a third if the way to our target which is great but so far to go it all seems a bit daunting but failure is not an option for my family and I. So huge thanks to everyone that has helped us get to this point xxxx
Brownstock was awesome anyone who hasn't been to this local festival should Definately check it out great for the family and even had a disabled toilet. They raised over six hundred pounds for Isabella which was great.
Some time has passed since the walk and I am now in the middle of planning the next challenge, tony (Isabella's step dad) and are good friend nick will be rowing the Thames at Easter this is a huge challenge considering neither have been in a kayak yet. I guess there is no point doing a challenge if its not difficult. We are nearly
a third if the way to our target which is great but so far to go it all seems a bit daunting but failure is not an option for my family and I. So huge thanks to everyone that has helped us get to this point xxxx
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Brownstock this weekend cant wait
So its been some time since i have updated the blog unfortunately i have had a few health problems so not had as much time as possible to get on the computer and update how things are going. As such not much has been happening.
So this weekend we are taking isabella to Brownstock which is a local festival, i am so excited am sure isabella will love it with all the music and the atmosphere. Brownstock is run by a local family in essex who host the festival on their farm. They have been extremely good to us and have agreed to put isabellas collection pots out for us. Not only this but they have offered children from little havens hospice tickets to attend the festival. For all of you essex people that dont know about it google it its great with some great acts confirmed such as labrinth and nero am sure tickets are still available at a fraction of the cost of v festival.
Will post some pics of isabella at her first festival next week.
So in relation to fundraising we still have a huge way to go, the funds are slowly creeping up and we are not far fom £8000 although we still have £22000 to go lol
The next event will be on 20th September when O Connors bar in chelmsford will be hospting a quiz night, they have been a huge support to the fundraising, this will be the second quiz they have done since fundraising has started and i am sure it will be a huge success. Its £25 per team, with teams of up to six people. The quiz starts at 8 so get there early to make sure you get a table.
So isabellas step father tony and our good friend Nick are in the middle of planning a sponsored kayak. The plan is that they will do the length of the thames over five days covering a total of 190 miles. This is a huge challenge considering neither of them have been in a kayak. The plan is that they will do this in April so we are currently looking into getting them all there licenses that they will need as well as some lessons lol.
Obviously the main reason they are doing this is to raise money for isabella so i have been sending letters out to local companies to see if any of them will sponsor the boys in exchange we will put their company logos onto the kayaks. I am also looking into trying to find some one to do a proper web site for us at the minute which will give us the ability to put company logos on the site for businesses that sponsor the event. I have also sent out letters to all the supermarkets in our area asking for the opportunity to go into the store to bag pack this was ahuge success when it was done in the lake district so hopefully some of them wil let us. We have had a letter from Morrisons in maldon who sadly cant help us so fingers crossed for some of the others.
A huge thanks to all the people that have and continue to support us its hugely appreciated
So this weekend we are taking isabella to Brownstock which is a local festival, i am so excited am sure isabella will love it with all the music and the atmosphere. Brownstock is run by a local family in essex who host the festival on their farm. They have been extremely good to us and have agreed to put isabellas collection pots out for us. Not only this but they have offered children from little havens hospice tickets to attend the festival. For all of you essex people that dont know about it google it its great with some great acts confirmed such as labrinth and nero am sure tickets are still available at a fraction of the cost of v festival.
Will post some pics of isabella at her first festival next week.
So in relation to fundraising we still have a huge way to go, the funds are slowly creeping up and we are not far fom £8000 although we still have £22000 to go lol
The next event will be on 20th September when O Connors bar in chelmsford will be hospting a quiz night, they have been a huge support to the fundraising, this will be the second quiz they have done since fundraising has started and i am sure it will be a huge success. Its £25 per team, with teams of up to six people. The quiz starts at 8 so get there early to make sure you get a table.
So isabellas step father tony and our good friend Nick are in the middle of planning a sponsored kayak. The plan is that they will do the length of the thames over five days covering a total of 190 miles. This is a huge challenge considering neither of them have been in a kayak. The plan is that they will do this in April so we are currently looking into getting them all there licenses that they will need as well as some lessons lol.
Obviously the main reason they are doing this is to raise money for isabella so i have been sending letters out to local companies to see if any of them will sponsor the boys in exchange we will put their company logos onto the kayaks. I am also looking into trying to find some one to do a proper web site for us at the minute which will give us the ability to put company logos on the site for businesses that sponsor the event. I have also sent out letters to all the supermarkets in our area asking for the opportunity to go into the store to bag pack this was ahuge success when it was done in the lake district so hopefully some of them wil let us. We have had a letter from Morrisons in maldon who sadly cant help us so fingers crossed for some of the others.
A huge thanks to all the people that have and continue to support us its hugely appreciated
Monday, 2 July 2012
My amazing family
Hi well i am so excited to announce karen and suzy got back to essex in great spirits, even if they did wander into the fun day before i had chance to get everyone round to cheer them through our hand made finish line. Oh well the best plans, think they were just so excited to see their families after two long weeks that they forgot to give me my five minute warning of their arrival. lol. They had fun especially on the bouncy castles and slide. ( think the fluffy slippers they wore all day eased the blisters so they could enjoy themselves)
Everything seemed to be on our side for the fun day, when i turned up there that morning i could have cried there was torrential rain which meant i was unable to start getting set up, this combined with the fact my back is still painful from my car injury meant i had quite a tearful morning. thankfully some one was looking out for me and as quickly as the rain came down it stopped and the day was transformed by brilliant sunshine. Shortly followed by the army of family and friends who came to help get set up. I think its fair to say that the situation didnt bring out the best in my personality lol.
I think in hindsight i had put myself under so much pressure to make the day perfect for my sisters and family that i was probably never going to live up to my own expectations and the delay in setting up most definately did not help. How do you thank people that do something as amazing as my sisters did for my daughter. I am sitting here now and still cant believe what my sisters did for isabella, its simply amazing. Sometimes i wish i could slow time down and go back to the fun day and really take it all in, I was so humbled by what they did but also the effort my family and friends put in to make it possible.It was great to see so many familiar faces and a few blasts from the past just wish i had been able to speak to everyone and let them know how grateful i was for their support.
Its amazing how things pull together and amazing the kindness of strangers, i met so many lovely people at the fun day who came to offer their support as well as the wonderful stall holders who came with their businesses and supported me throughout the day. I have recieved such kind words of support from members of our community, its extremely humbling and makes you realise that there are some amazing people out there.
I am a great believer in that everything happens for a reason. I feel honoured and privelaged to have the family i have and most importantly my daughter. I know i have said this numerous times but my daughter has taught me how to be a better person, she has taught me empathy and most importantly what is important in life and how we should look at how rich we are in life, not be material possesions but the real treasures. If we look at our life in this way i am most definately a millionaire. We can all get through life when everything is going to plan but what makes you realise some ones worth is how they react and adapt when life is stressful and sacrifices need to be made, which leads me on to my amazing fiance tony. We got together when isabella was just over 18months old and he has been by my side ever since supporting me through every hospital visit and illness, sitting up all night with me whilst we watch isabella. he is just great , i am very lucky and cant wait to become his wife in January.
Tony and our good friend nick are currently in training to row the thames next year in a bid to raise money for isabella. We havent counted all the money from the fun day yet but it is looking like we have initially raised approximately £1000. i will post some pics and a definate final total tomorrow as i need to grab some more money bags to finish counting.
HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT CAME AND EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED ON LINE, WE ARE GETTING THERE BUT £30,000 IS A HUGE CHALLENGE SO FINGERS CROSSED WE WILL GET THERE AS WOULD LOVE TO TAKE HER NEXT MAY.
Everything seemed to be on our side for the fun day, when i turned up there that morning i could have cried there was torrential rain which meant i was unable to start getting set up, this combined with the fact my back is still painful from my car injury meant i had quite a tearful morning. thankfully some one was looking out for me and as quickly as the rain came down it stopped and the day was transformed by brilliant sunshine. Shortly followed by the army of family and friends who came to help get set up. I think its fair to say that the situation didnt bring out the best in my personality lol.
I think in hindsight i had put myself under so much pressure to make the day perfect for my sisters and family that i was probably never going to live up to my own expectations and the delay in setting up most definately did not help. How do you thank people that do something as amazing as my sisters did for my daughter. I am sitting here now and still cant believe what my sisters did for isabella, its simply amazing. Sometimes i wish i could slow time down and go back to the fun day and really take it all in, I was so humbled by what they did but also the effort my family and friends put in to make it possible.It was great to see so many familiar faces and a few blasts from the past just wish i had been able to speak to everyone and let them know how grateful i was for their support.
Its amazing how things pull together and amazing the kindness of strangers, i met so many lovely people at the fun day who came to offer their support as well as the wonderful stall holders who came with their businesses and supported me throughout the day. I have recieved such kind words of support from members of our community, its extremely humbling and makes you realise that there are some amazing people out there.
I am a great believer in that everything happens for a reason. I feel honoured and privelaged to have the family i have and most importantly my daughter. I know i have said this numerous times but my daughter has taught me how to be a better person, she has taught me empathy and most importantly what is important in life and how we should look at how rich we are in life, not be material possesions but the real treasures. If we look at our life in this way i am most definately a millionaire. We can all get through life when everything is going to plan but what makes you realise some ones worth is how they react and adapt when life is stressful and sacrifices need to be made, which leads me on to my amazing fiance tony. We got together when isabella was just over 18months old and he has been by my side ever since supporting me through every hospital visit and illness, sitting up all night with me whilst we watch isabella. he is just great , i am very lucky and cant wait to become his wife in January.
Tony and our good friend nick are currently in training to row the thames next year in a bid to raise money for isabella. We havent counted all the money from the fun day yet but it is looking like we have initially raised approximately £1000. i will post some pics and a definate final total tomorrow as i need to grab some more money bags to finish counting.
HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT CAME AND EVERYONE THAT HAS DONATED ON LINE, WE ARE GETTING THERE BUT £30,000 IS A HUGE CHALLENGE SO FINGERS CROSSED WE WILL GET THERE AS WOULD LOVE TO TAKE HER NEXT MAY.
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
The girls are still going and the end is in sight
Well there was definately a moment when i didnt think i would be writing this post but am so so proud of my sisters and cant believe how after all the pain and set backs they are still on track with their walk. I spoke to them today and they seem i great spirits although when i asked them how there legs were holding up they told me they had gone past the point of pain and that there legs were permanently covered in freeze spray. Not good but they are on the home stretch with only three days and approximately seventy miles to go.
I dont know about you but seventy miles seems like a feat in itself and thats before you add on the 300 they have nearlly completed over the last week and a half.
Well its been full steam ahead in essex as well as we all knuckle down with the fun day planning, this has been slightly hampered by my back injury following a car accident but my new motto has been slow and steady, something which i am sure karen and suzy are also working to by now, but as we all know slow and steady wins the race.
The fun day will be held at baddow recreational ground and millenium hall in chelmsford on saurday 30 june between 1200 and 1600, there will be loads going on with both the field and the hall being taken advantage of. The field will have all your favourites with bouncy castles, coco nut shires, face painters as well as hook the duck and lots of other fun day favourites, there will also be some independant crafters there setting up stalls selling their beautiful products. I think i will be parting with some money that day. We also have the hall in case the weather isnt so great were there will be a soft play area, arts and crafts and a messy play area.
We would love to see you all there and have as big a crowd as possible to cheer karen and suzy over the finish line.
I am aware that Chelmsford Weekly news are very kindly putting an article in the paper advertising the event for us, unfortunately they have forgotten to put on there how people can donate so for all those people if you wish to help us get to our target of £30,000 then you can donate either by handing it in to any essex police station marked for the attention of DC 3017 Bennett at Brentwood police station, by using the paypal donation button on this site or by contacting me by e mail on christine_bennett79@yahoo.co.uk for us to discuss other arrangements ot to provide you with an alternative postal address.
Again thanklyou to everyone for all your support it has kept karen and suzy going and kept them motivated in what can only be described as a huge task.
Speak to you all soon and i will post some pics of the fun day for those of you supporting from other parts of the uk.
I dont know about you but seventy miles seems like a feat in itself and thats before you add on the 300 they have nearlly completed over the last week and a half.
Well its been full steam ahead in essex as well as we all knuckle down with the fun day planning, this has been slightly hampered by my back injury following a car accident but my new motto has been slow and steady, something which i am sure karen and suzy are also working to by now, but as we all know slow and steady wins the race.
The fun day will be held at baddow recreational ground and millenium hall in chelmsford on saurday 30 june between 1200 and 1600, there will be loads going on with both the field and the hall being taken advantage of. The field will have all your favourites with bouncy castles, coco nut shires, face painters as well as hook the duck and lots of other fun day favourites, there will also be some independant crafters there setting up stalls selling their beautiful products. I think i will be parting with some money that day. We also have the hall in case the weather isnt so great were there will be a soft play area, arts and crafts and a messy play area.
We would love to see you all there and have as big a crowd as possible to cheer karen and suzy over the finish line.
I am aware that Chelmsford Weekly news are very kindly putting an article in the paper advertising the event for us, unfortunately they have forgotten to put on there how people can donate so for all those people if you wish to help us get to our target of £30,000 then you can donate either by handing it in to any essex police station marked for the attention of DC 3017 Bennett at Brentwood police station, by using the paypal donation button on this site or by contacting me by e mail on christine_bennett79@yahoo.co.uk for us to discuss other arrangements ot to provide you with an alternative postal address.
Again thanklyou to everyone for all your support it has kept karen and suzy going and kept them motivated in what can only be described as a huge task.
Speak to you all soon and i will post some pics of the fun day for those of you supporting from other parts of the uk.
Thursday, 21 June 2012
a note from the intrepid two
Thank you all for all the support you have shown us over the last couple of days it has really kept us going. As some of you are probably aware we had to pay a little visit to A&E following in insect bite on Tuesday which has turned quite nasty.
All was not lost though as we did manage to entertain all the staff and other ill patients that were waiting to be seen as both me and Suzie decided to have a fit of giggles when we realised that yet again we had problems in opposite legs!!!
This concluded in the receptionist announcing that they had a right pair in reception and putting the mental health team on standby.
Suzie then proceeded to completely baffle the poor doctor when after giving her a thorough examination for Deep Vein Thromboses he confessed he was very confused and asked again how she had received these injuries? Her reply was to say we had been walking..............when asked where have you been walking she told him Barrow in Furness, cumbria. He proceeded to remove her shoes and socks and was in complete shock at the state of her feet untill she explained "oh don't worry they are just blister plasters" I think he thought she has some sort of skin dissorder!!! She then decided this was a good time to let him know we were walking to Chelmsford (I think the doctor at this point was loosing the will live), especially when she was told she could go, he then spotted the tube coming out of her rucksack!!! he questions what the tube was for to which she replied while smiling "oh don't worry about that thats for my water" I now think the doctor is receiving medication as he thought Suzie was on oxygen!!! All made for a very entertaining day.
We will be fine, and we complete this challenge.
All our Love Karen & Suzie
All was not lost though as we did manage to entertain all the staff and other ill patients that were waiting to be seen as both me and Suzie decided to have a fit of giggles when we realised that yet again we had problems in opposite legs!!!
This concluded in the receptionist announcing that they had a right pair in reception and putting the mental health team on standby.
Suzie then proceeded to completely baffle the poor doctor when after giving her a thorough examination for Deep Vein Thromboses he confessed he was very confused and asked again how she had received these injuries? Her reply was to say we had been walking..............when asked where have you been walking she told him Barrow in Furness, cumbria. He proceeded to remove her shoes and socks and was in complete shock at the state of her feet untill she explained "oh don't worry they are just blister plasters" I think he thought she has some sort of skin dissorder!!! She then decided this was a good time to let him know we were walking to Chelmsford (I think the doctor at this point was loosing the will live), especially when she was told she could go, he then spotted the tube coming out of her rucksack!!! he questions what the tube was for to which she replied while smiling "oh don't worry about that thats for my water" I now think the doctor is receiving medication as he thought Suzie was on oxygen!!! All made for a very entertaining day.
We will be fine, and we complete this challenge.
All our Love Karen & Suzie
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