Video: an introduction to
Demelza

If you have never tried finding a baby-sitter for a child
with epilepsy, or changing facilities for a seven-year-old who
still wears nappies, you may have little idea of the difficulties
of caring for a disabled child.

For 36-year-old Ashford woman Debbie Southern, even getting a
good night's sleep is 'bliss', as her seven-year-old daughter Molly
rarely sleeps for over three hours. The youngster, who suffers from
a lack of melatonin, enjoys respite stays at Demelza, Hospice Care for
Children, giving her mum and dad John a
break.

The Sittingbourne-based charity provides respite and end of life
care for disabled children, allowing them and their families a few
days to feel normal.

Over the next week, KentOnline is taking a look behind the
scenes at this extraordinary charity, to mark Children's Hospice
Week.