Garden transformed for disabled girl, 7, who can't go to the park

Storm Griffin, 7, has Down's syndrome, impaired sight and hearing, and holes in her heart, and is being tested for ADHD and autism. She lives in Knowle West with her mum, Liz.

Liz said: "I don’t ask for help and no one helps me out anyway, but even if I did ask, "can you have her for an hour", no one would have her because she's still in nappies as well so they wouldn't do that.

"So it is hard really."

Her back garden was not a great place for Storm to play, as it only had a trampoline with a hole in the middle and no protective barrier, and the grass was overgrown, but Liz couldn't afford to do anything about it.

Whilst out shopping with Storm. Liz bumped into Nick Haskins, who also lives in Knowle West. When she told Nick about her problems, he decided to do what he could to help Storm.

Nick said: "When this little girl walked round the corner it was weird, it was like my body told me I had to do something before my brain did if you know what I mean.

"It was like I just had this overwhelming feeling that I had to help her, you know? And I couldn't stop thinking about her."

He set up a Gofundme account and put out an appeal on Facebook asking people to donate in July, and raised over £1,300.

The garden now has a swing, two slides, a climb through tunnel, a see-saw, a new trampoline and new decking. And several gardeners and handymen also offered their services for free to renovate the garden.

Liz said: "She's got a nice little smile on her face now, that’s what all matters. I just wanted somewhere safe for her to go. At the park if there's glass bottles about things like that, that’s not safe for the kids.

"She's happy and I'm glad because I can lock the gate, and if I need to go the toilet or do housework I know she's safe. And the important thing for me was her safety."

Source: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/garden-transformed-disabled-girl-7-5773685

#PeoplePowered #GoodNews #Bristol