Dominic’s New Bedroom and Bathroom

Dominic Leggett

Teignmouth, Devon

Currently Dominic has a small bedroom, which is taken up mainly with his specialist bed and equipment.  There is no space for more than 1 carer at a time to see to him and not enough space for all his equipment.

At bath time, he uses a specialist bath chair in our standard bath, which has to be lifted in and out each time, and he is then hoisted wet across the main hallway back to his bed where he is dried and dressed.  Dominic is now 14 years old and deserves dignity and privacy, which is why there is a formal Statement of Need from his Occupational Therapist for this work to be undertaken.

We live in a bungalow and the options are slightly limited.  We have drawn up several plans with the architect to effectively redesign the layout so that it works.

The plans are for him to be moved to the main bedroom, which is bigger to allow for space all around his bed, and access to his own private bathroom created through the wall into the adjacent bedroom (his current bedroom).  This will have an Aster Bannerman height adjustable bath, with integrated changing mat and shower attachment, and will be fully accessible with ceiling track hoist and space for his wheelchair.

In order to facilitate this, our existing lounge will become two new bedrooms, (for us and for his brother) and an extension at the rear of the bungalow will allow for a new lounge.

We are extremely grateful for any help anyone is able to offer, no matter how small as it all adds up.  This is a very humbling process, I never imagined I would have to fund raise to give Dominic the privacy, dignity and space he so desperately needs, so thank you from the bottom of my heart x

Dominic has a rare metabolic condition called Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinaemia. This causes considerable damage to his brain, meaning he is profoundly disabled, has seizures, is wheelchair bound, tube fed, is doubly incontinent, and is registered severely visually impaired. He is non-verbal and is entirely dependent on adults for his every need.

He currently has a small bedroom, which is taken up mainly with his huge specialist bed and seating, and a wardrobe full of milk feeds, medicines, syringes and creams.

Every evening he is hoisted across the hallway to the bathroom for his bath, and then back again, wet, to his bed where he is dried and dressed. Dominic is now 14 years old and desperately needs privacy first and foremost, but also a bigger bedroom where two carers can see to him from both sides of the bed, and where there is room for all his equipment, medicines, feeds and nappies.

In order to facilitate this, we are needing to rearrange the footprint of the bungalow. Dominic will move into the front bedroom, and his current bedroom will be made into an adjacent bathroom with internal access only, including an Aster Bannerman height adjustable bath with shower and integral changing place. There will also be an H Frame ceiling track running across both rooms so he can be hoisted from anywhere in either room.

This move means that we no longer have a bedroom. Therefore our existing lounge will be made into two new bedrooms, for us and for Dominic's 10 year old brother Hugo (who currently has a tiny box room) and an extension built onto the rear of the bungalow to create a new lounge.

Despite all his problems, Dominic is a happy boy, has a beautiful smile and cheeky sense of humour! He laughs if someone sneezes, and thinks farting noises are hilarious! He is unable to walk, but is incredibly strong and can get up on his knees to throw himself at you for a cuddle. He might be 14, but he is our yummy, scrummy, kissable, gorgeous boy and we do love him so very much.

We are extremely grateful for any help anyone is able to offer, no matter how small as it all adds up. This is a very humbling process, I never imagined I would have to fund raise to give Dominic the privacy, dignity and space he so desperately needs, so thank you from the bottom of my heart x