Today is Ellie Jordon’s 15th birthday – and all she wants is a bath.
Since a bout of suspected meningitis at only three weeks old left her with severe brain damage, she has faced an uphill struggle to lead a normal life.
Despite doctors saying she would never be able to walk or talk, Ellie has defied all expectations, even completing a mile walk for Sport Relief in 2012.
But just a year later, aged 13, an incurable viral infection destroyed Ellie’s left eye and caused further brain damage, leaving her unable to walk more than a few steps.
She wears nappies, her ground-floor bedroom has padded walls to stop her hurting herself and for the past two years, because she can’t go upstairs, Ellie has been unable to have a bath at home.
Mother Sonia said: “She’s my hero. If she wasn’t so brave, we would have crumbled years ago.”
The family came to Sutton from Essex eight years ago to enrol Ellie at Lindon Lodge, a specialist sensory and physical college in Wimbledon.
The Jordons moved from rented accommodation into their current Collingwood Road house in June, expecting Sutton Council would pay to build a ground-floor bathroom extension for Ellie, including a special bath and cleaning suite.
In July, the Jordons were told there would not be enough funding to pay for the bath.
Mrs Jordon, 34, said: “We thought it would be built by now.
“We can’t get her in the upstairs bath safely.”
The family is now fundraising on their own to raise £11,000 for the bath.
They have already spent considerable sums of money making the house safe for Ellie, and both parents have given up work to give her round-the-clock care, as well as looking after her sisters, Lily, eight, and Millie, seven.
Mrs Jordon said: “We’ve always tried to do it ourselves. But we owe thousands to the bank.
“We know no one around here, it all revolves around Ellie.”
Today, there will be a bouncy castle in the Jordon’s garden – a birthday tradition. But next year, her mum is hoping Ellie will be able to have a bath at home as well.
You can help pay for the bath at gofundme.com/97uly8.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel