A CLEVEDON mother born with Apert Syndrome has been recognised in Carers Week.

When Kaddy Thomas was born in 1968, doctors initially labelled her as severely mentally disabled. However, her Apert Syndrome only related to the shape of her skull, her hands, and her feet - in all other ways, she was a healthy child.

The doctors were at a loss with how to diagnose Kaddy. Her mother, aged just 22, put her in care when Kaddy was just a year old. The child was then raised in a children's hospital until the age of three.

After that, Kaddy spent the rest of her childhood in foster care and children's homes. When she was 12, she was sexually abused by her foster father, and managed to escape this abuse after two years.

At aged 16, Kaddy started a YTS scheme and gained GCSE's. Following this, Kaddy completed a business management course, attended Bournville Art College, ran a café and worked as an assistant cook at Woodbrooke Quaker College in Birmingham. 

Kaddy settled into her career as a relief support worker at St Basils, a home for homeless young people in Birmingham, before moving into the role as receptionist and administrator.

Kaddy became pregnant and gave birth to baby Elijah in 2006. Elijah was also born with Apert Syndrome, and needed surgery to change the shape of his skull. Elijah unfortunately got an infection after the operation, which left him severely brain damaged.

Kaddy jumped into the role of carer and even launched a charity called Elijah's Hope.

Kaddy said: "Elijah’s Hope was born out of my lived experience of mainly being persecuted as I call it or if I was going to use another word unfairly treated by social services.

"I now support young people and families who are affected by Apert Syndrome via an online community, blogs, social media, resources and signposting to available services.

"Elijah is my adorable son, to enable him to have the best life, of a good quality, and to give him great teenage years. To be well and of sound mind we need good support mechanisms."

Kaddy now lives in Clevedon.

Carers Week runs from June 5 until June 11 and is an annual campaign to highlight the challenges carers face on a daily basis.

To learn more, visit the Carers Week website.