Sams Story as told by his Family.

Samuel George Blessington 10/02/2004 to 08/09/2016

Sam was born in Grimsby in 2004 he suffered a massive head bleed the reason was unknown. This resulted in Sam living with complex health issues and a disability he was unable to move his limbs verbally communicate registered blind and was a wheelchair user.

Sam received lots of support from different sectors of Health, Social Care, Education along with private and voluntary organisations. As time went on People in the local community were also very supportive and helped to maximise Sam’s quality of life.

Sam loved being around people and his family and had a permanent smile on his face, his eyes and facial expressions spoke volume and despite all his health problems and short life he made a difference.

Sam required 24 hour nursing care but despite this he lived with his family in the family home all of his life. Family members were trained to carry out nursing duties and procedures within the family home, this was something that had never happened in this area before.

There was no Childrens nursing team within the community to support with complex health needs such as intravenous feeding and medications and later catheterisation.

Sam’s complex health needs changed all that…. Now parents are trained to care for disabled children with complex health issues within their own homes.

Sam pushed the medical professionals to their limits ensuring he had the best quality of life, he was a challenge to different medical professionals and his treatments and medications that prolonged his life is still widely spoke about today within the realms of medicine.

Sam and his family were supported by the local children’s hospice for years initially they were an independent organisation but through Sam’s complex health needs they worked more in partnership with NHS staff and other medical professionals in specialists children’s hospitals further afield, Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

Sam’s health impacted on his attending school regularly and over time health staff and teachers in education worked more closer together and Sam received home education to take into account his complex health issues.

Sam and his family have had first hand experience of the generosity of local people and Local businesses coming together and providing a sensory garden for Sam enabling him to be taken outdoors in the fresh air and stimulate his senses with his family and friends.

Sam used to love going to the park with his brother and sister the joy he had as he sat on our knees being pushed on the swing and the roundabout with h=this big grin on his face….as he became to heavy to sit on our knees we would push him around the park in his wheel chair listening to the children laughing and playing together.

What Sam’s family would like to see is a park which is more socially inclusive within the area of Grimsby/Cleethorpes wheelchair accessible play equipment for both able and disabled children to enjoy.

We hope you enjoyed this story and helps you to decide in donating to this cause, we know there are so many wonderful causes to donate to, it would mean the world to us to achieve our goal and leave a legacy in the memory of Sam.

If we raise enough fund we can make this happen, if our fundraising exceeds expectations funds will be used to create play parks and all inclusive splash zones in Cleethorpes, making this a truly unique opportunity to be involved and help leave a legacy for years to come.