Cinderella pays magical visit to brave Elspeth's bedside

Elspeth Cadwallader, 12, looks forward to panto season every winter but for the past two her myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) has left her bedbound.

So the star of this year's show at Oakengates Theatre, Isabel Gamble, took time out of her rehearsal schedule to personally visit Elspeth at her Muxton home in costume.

Elspeth's mother Ursula Cock said: “Like many families, visiting the pantomime is a Christmas tradition of ours and we would usually attend on Christmas Eve.

"Elspeth’s health has deteriorated in recent years but her love for panto is still very much alive.

“Before she was diagnosed she danced for a local dance company and had high hopes of starring in the panto so it’s very close to her heart.

"Elspeth is amazing - I'm super proud of how positive she is and it’s wonderful to be able to make this happen for her and keep our family tradition going.”

Two years ago Elspeth was diagnosed with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome, and has since the lost the ability to walk or stand.

She suffers extreme pain in her joints and muscles, persistent headaches, and struggles to swallow or hold her head up.

Even light and sound are incredibly taxing for Elspeth's limited energy levels. There is no known cure for ME, and over-exertion can cause further decline.

After appeals to the Telford community, a number of groups and individuals came forward to donate their own time, money and effort to adapt the family home for Elspeth's needs.

Ursula said: “As Elspeth lost the ability to walk it was impossible to get her upstairs and there wasn’t enough room, so we created a space as a stopgap within the dining area.

Recovery

"To prevent further decline and with urgent need for a space suitable to encourage recovery, my friend Nicki Cawley set up a justgiving page to raise funds to create a bedroom in the garage.”

The fundraiser was a success, and builders in the town also donated their time and material to make the bedroom a reality.

And Nicki then set up another online fundraiser to try and get Elspeth a wetroom to give her more dignity.

Ursula held a garage sale and also sold off belongings online, all to support the wetroom appeal.

She said: “I contacted a local builder, Samantha Marcham of Samantha Construction.

"Samantha posted on social media and put the word about the needs of my daughter out, and within hours people were offering to help.”

WS Builders of Telford volunteered to build the wetroom, the Lions of Ironbridge donated money and a host of construction and decoration companies gave their time too.

Ursula went on: “Craig Ward from WS Builders was so very kind and understood that Elspeth would struggle to cope with the works. He worked around her, and with total respect and empathy would work a day here and there to ensure she didn’t suffer a decline.

"Craig and his team could have done no more for us and certainly went the extra mile to aid the family as a whole. We are utterly grateful and want to thank everyone for their support and kindness.”

Some of the other companies who volunteered to help include MTH Property, Tile Choice of Bilston and Impey Showers from Somerset.

Ursula said that misconceptions about ME were common, and that those with the disorder can become “invisible” because they withdraw from public life.