Supporting Laiba

Laiba is a teenage girl with a severe form of epilepsy which can cause her to have atonic seizures multiple times each day. Also known as drop seizures, they cause her muscles to suddenly relax which result in her falling to the ground. In addition, Laiba has anxiety issues and other physical and learning needs.

Laiba lives with her mum and her younger sister and is a happy, active young girl who loves to run around, laugh, smile, and jump up and down when she is enjoying activities.

Caremark Rotherham & Sheffield began supporting Laiba in May 2024. Our role is to ensure she can still access the activities she enjoys doing in the community, which provides her mum with some much-needed respite time.

Since May, Laiba has built some fantastic relationships with her consistent staff team and both she and her mum feel comfortable going out into open spaces with her Caremark team to enjoy social activities.

This has had a really positive effect on Laiba herself, enhancing her social skills and for her confidence whilst out and about away from her Mum.

Laiba was one of our clients who took part in our staff and client sports day in the summer of 2024. She really enjoyed getting involved in blowing bubbles, throwing & catching balls and playing with the parachute in a group situation with other clients and staff. She was happy, engaging, smiling, laughing, and loving the day out with interaction from lots of other people, which months ago, without Caremark’s support, would not have been possible.

Kate, one of the professionals involved with Laiba’s care, had this to say about Caremark Rotherham & Sheffield:

“‘I just wanted to raise for your attention the fabulous work your team do and the difference they have made.

This young girl had not attended school for over a year, was wholly dependent on her mother 24/7 and couldn’t leave the house. This left the both of them incredibly isolated, and without any help, mum couldn’t even go to the supermarket.

“In the few weeks Caremark staff have been going in we’ve seen such a massive difference. The young person is now accepting support from your staff in a morning, she is allowing mum to go out to the shops and has even accessed places like a local play centre.

“This doesn’t sound like much, but for this young person it is such a momentous achievement! It has made the world of difference for the mum too, who seems to have a fresh lease of life, thanks to the periods of rest.”

We are incredibly proud of Laiba and are looking forward to continuing to see her grow and develop further.