A North Belfast child is facing a housing crisis after a brain aneurysm which left her in ICU twice and wheelchair bound.
Debbie McQuade's 10-year-old daughter Anna was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children on August 9, 2021. A previously healthy child, Anna had a sore neck with doctors telling the family she had a 3-4cm brain aneurysm.
After two operations in August and September 2021, the family thought she was getting better. However, in January 2022, her aneurysm grew to 6cm, leading to a further coiling operation.
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Anna is currently unable to walk unaided, is in a wheelchair, is only allowed two forkfulls of food a few times a day, and is also on a feeding tube for her medicines. And after a difficult year, the youngster has finally been given the green light to leave hospital.
However, Debbie has been on the housing list for a two or three bedroom home since November 2021. All the mum has been offered so far from the Housing Executive are flats, which is unsuitable due to Anna's condition.
Debbie said she is in "desperate need" to find a suitable home, with Anna due to attend school again soon.
"It is hard enough for Anna to feel different with her being the only child in her school in a wheelchair, never mind feeling different because she’s the only child living in a hospital," Debbie told Belfast Live.
"Anna was a perfectly healthy child who has ended up in ICU twice and had numerous surgeries which has left her wheelchair bound and unable to eat. The amazing staff have taught me all I need for her and I have been given the green light for Anna to finally leave hospital.
"Unfortunately, I have been on the housing list for a two or three bed house since November 2021. I have PTSD from this traumatic event which gives me extreme anxiety.
"Anna is working with physiotherapists and occupational therapists daily in hospital but she is still wheelchair bound. All I have been offered by the Housing Executive are flats. My daughter is in a wheelchair and a flat is not suitable in the event of a fire.
"I have tried to explain this to the Housing Executive because the occupational therapists are in agreement, a flat is unsuitable. I had a response back that a ground floor flat is acceptable.
"Due to my anxiety, I feel extremely uncomfortable with shared access, I have provided letters from my physiologist who treats me in the Royal Victoria Hospital to my housing officer. I am also on the waiting list for a psychiatrist."
Debbie said she is willing to take a temporary home and convert a living room into a bedroom, if it means she's able to bring her daughter home after a difficult year in hospital.
"The occupational therapists have advised I could take a temporary home with stairs and make the living room into a bedroom. I am willing to do so and willing to help Anna upstairs for the shower/bathroom," she said.
"A report has been given for a permanent home but this should not take away my need for a temporary one. All doctors, nurses and therapists are in agreement about this. My daughter is ready to leave hospital after spending one year of her life there but I have no home to take her to.
"I have asked for a North Belfast home where I can feel safe to bring up my disabled child alone. I am in desperate need, as are the discharge nurses.
"We have meetings monthly but there has been no change. I have always graced myself with pride and not ask for help but I have been backed into a corner with no hope."
A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said: "We are very aware of and sympathetic to this lady’s case, and that her daughter requires suitable wheelchair accommodation following a significant injury.
"Two temporary solutions have been offered to help the family in the short term. We are actively trying to source accommodation so that her daughter can be released from hospital, however we have no suitable properties at present. We will continue to keep in close contact and assist the family in any way we can."
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