Family of severely disabled Wigan girl launches appeal to raise £25,000 for sensory room

Mum Emma Gallagher wants to help 12-year-old daughter Maisey Gallagher have a better quality of life by converting their garage into an area which meets her complex needs.

Maisey was just four months old when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour – and her family were told there was nothing doctors could do for her.

She was then admitted to Derian House Children’s Hospice, in Chorley, so she could see out her life as painlessly as possible.

But after three days in Derian House, Maisey gave a reaction that she hadn’t in hospital and the doctor arranged for her to go to Pendlebury Children’s Hospital, as she was showing signs of fighting.

Doctors then agreed to try and operate and remove as much of the tumour as they could, with her family being told she had a 50/50 chance of surviving the operation.

And after going through an 11-hour operation, the surgeon managed to remove 95 per cent of the tumour, with the other five per cent on her brain stem.

Maisey then had to endure 15 months of her chemotherapy which managed to get rid of the tumour. A small tumour did come back briefly in 2012 but following an operation she has been given the all-clear.

However, Maisey’s battle saw her left with various disabilities, including not being able to walk or talk and she is tube- fed – with her mum saying a sensory room would now be ideal as she turns 13 this year.

Emma, 35, who lives with Maisey and seven-year-old son Stephen in Winstanley, said: “Maisey also has a severe sight impairment and she attends appointments at Manchester to deal with ongoing problems and scans of her brain.

“Due to a right-sided weakness she also has scoliosis of the spine and problems with her right hand, foot, hips and knees.

“After all that Maisey has been through, and continues to go through, in her life she is always smiling and loves music.

“Now that she is going to be 13 this year and will never be able to live independently we want convert the garage into a sensory/living room as her needs grow and she gets older.”

The room would be kitted out with special sensory equipment including bubble tubes and special lighting.

But £25,000 is needed to make the sensory room a reality.

Emma said: “The garage isn’t liveable and we want to convert it into a living space.

“It would be Maisey’s own part of the house and would connect to the rest of it and give her more space and independence.

To donate money, visit Emma’s Just Giving Page here