The dying mother of three adopted Down's syndrome children today demanded more respite help for 'silent carers'.

Pam Oakley, a 57-year-old former nurse who is terminally ill with leukaemia, wants a face-to-face meeting with the Minister for the Disabled, Maria Eagle.

She claims that people who look after handicapped children save the Government thousands of pounds and get nothing in return.

Mrs Oakley, who lives at Madeley and has four grown-up children of her own, has looked after three adopted Down's syndrome children - Adam, aged 11, Tom, 14, and Katy, 15 -on her own since her husband walked out on them.

She says the children are loving and affectionate and having brought her nothing but happiness during their time with her.

But now she is suffering from chronic lymphoctic leukaemia - a cancer of the white blood cells - and may have only a few years to live.

She said: "It is nobody's fault that I am ill, but silent carers like me save the Government thousands and thousands of pounds.
"I want to know where is the respite care, the youth clubs and summer playgroups?
"Social service budgets don't give a high priority to the care of the mentally handicapped.
"As non-voters, Down's syndrome sufferers tend to be invisible, but they do have rights."

Mrs Oakley is desperate that her three adopted children should stay together after she dies. But she says it is hard to find foster carers for Down's syndrome children, and few families would consider taking on three.

"I'm damned if I'll have them separated," she said. "My promise to them before I die is that I will find them a new home."

Used courtesy of the The Sentinel