Dominic and his family couldn’t be happier now that the extension to their family home for ‘Dominic’s New Bedroom and Bathroom’ has been completed, allowing 16-year-old Dominic to have his own bedroom and private wetroom to meet his needs as he gets older.
The works planned, to restructure and extend their bungalow to provide suitable space for Dominic’s requirements, involved costs of £30,000 above the Disabled Facilities Grant and top-up funding awarded by the council to be sought.
Dominic’s Mum enlightens us on just some of the difficulties the original bungalow’s layout posed:
“Before we had the adaptations, we had to hoist Dom across the hallway to the bathroom, and then hoist him back again, wet and cold, to his bedroom. Not only was he shivering by the time he got to his bed, he deserved more dignity and privacy. It was the only bathroom we had and was often in demand with other members of the family having health issues.”
With the help of Sullivan’s Heroes, Dominic and his family set about raising the funds required – with donations coming not just through their fundraising page, but through a number of external organisations too. Local charity The David Gibbons Foundation was just one of those funders that stepped into provide much appreciated support along the way.
As Dominic’s Mum explains of the fundraising journey itself:
“I literally had no idea where to start until I spoke to Fiona at Sullivan’s Heroes. When we were told we'd need to raise more than £20,000 ourselves my heart sank, I knew we'd never find that kind of money. Fiona gave me all the tools I needed to get started, and although it was daunting she was always there to offer advice, support and reassurance that we could and would raise the money.”
“Sullivan’s Heroes give you all the information needed to set up the JustGiving page, templates and ideas as to what to say in applications, the charity details to give to companies and a list of charities to contact to get you started.”
“Sullivan’s Heroes helped us firstly by granting us £1,500 to get us started! And thereafter promoting our cause through the website and allowing us to use their name and charitable status.”
The restructuring and extension works have allowed Dominic to move to the previous main bedroom, which is bigger and allows for space all around his bed, with access to his own private bathroom created through the wall into the adjacent bedroom, which was his old bedroom.
An Aster Bannerman height adjustable bath, with integrated changing mat and shower attachment has been installed, and is fully accessible with ceiling track hoist and space for Dominic’s wheelchair.
Now that the works have been completed, Dominic’s parents tell us what this means to them all:
“OMG, it’s changed everything! Dom has a huge bedroom and his own private bathroom which are connected through double swing doors, and an H-frame ceiling track hoist system which runs across the two rooms over the wall. The Astor Bannerman bath is height adjustable and has an integrated changing mat, meaning that Dom is now dried and redressed in the warmth of the bathroom and hoisted to his bed comfortably.”
“We now have two bathrooms which has been such a huge deal for us. Our own bathroom now doesn't need to house the hoist and bath seat, and is more private for us all as the gap above the door is no longer needed for the hoist.”
"There is so much more space in Dom’s room, he has everything he needs and it’s beautiful! My youngest son has a bigger room too and says every day that he loves our new home."
