British authorities appeal to prospective parents to adopt disabled toddler Grace

AUTHORITIES in Britain have taken the extraordinary step of calling on prospective parents to give a disabled foster child a new home for Christmas.

Grace, three, is currently being cared for by a middle-aged couple called Jill and Paul (surname withheld for legal reasons), who wish to retire soon. The pair have fostered 40 children in 19 years and say they are getting too old to provide the toddler with the level of care she requires.

Grace suffers from cerebral palsy and chronic lung disease after she was born prematurely at 25 weeks, weighing just 0.59kg. Tragically, her biological mother was then unable to care for the newborn because of a brain injury.

Grace has two older siblings who have been adopted but prospective parents have so far been reluctant to give the little girl a home for life.

Jill and Paul said people should not be put off by Grace’s medical needs, adding that the youngster continued to defy the expectations of doctors, who initially feared she would never walk.

“At first when we heard about Grace’s special needs we did wonder whether we would be able to care for her,” Jill, 57, told The Mirror.

“But when we saw her when she was on oxygen in hospital we just knew — we had to help her.

“I think there is a perception that Grace may be a demanding child because of her health problems. She would need one stay-at-home parent like me because she requires a lot of care but there is nothing wrong with her mind. She is as bright as anything. She is a very intelligent child. A very special little girl.”

Authorities made the unusual decision to appeal for somebody to adopt Grace after Jill and Paul reluctantly declared they were getting too old to continue their foster care work.

“We’re just trying now to get a nice home for her,” Jill told local paper The Birmingham Mail.

“It’s so important for her to find a family and to finally see her settled. She needs a family for Christmas.

“To meet Grace, you would never know she was unwell at all. She is so full of energy and is so happy. She takes everything in her stride. Considering doctors said she couldn’t walk, it’s unbelievable to see her like this now.

“She bops around everywhere. She is incredibly loving and playful.”

Husband Paul added: “She is such a lovely little girl. Very undemanding. Anyone would be lucky to adopt her.”