A COUNTY care service offering short breaks and vital assistance to young people with disabilities has launched an appeal for new carers.

Share the Care is an East Lothian Council-run service providing “life-saving” care to families and young people living with disabilities.

Families in the county are urging people to join the service, having experienced what it provides.

Yvonne McAulay and her husband Jimmy, of Wallyford, described the service as a “life-saver” after receiving Share the Care’s help for son Danny, 19, who has severe and complex needs.

Yvonne said: “As a parent you always want to do what is best for your own child and no matter how exhausted I was nobody could do a better job than me; I was arrogant I suppose.”

When Yvonne met Share the Care carers Deeon and Joseph Hills, of Duns, she overcame her cynicism.

Yvonne said: “We were so lucky to have that match – and now when Danny is ready to go to respite, his bags are packed and he’s waiting at the door.

“To have that feeling, knowing that somebody else is looking after your child who has the care and expertise – that made it for me.”

Deeon recalled building a bond from the start.

She said: “I had spotted a framed photo of Yvonne in army uniform when I came into her house.

“When she asked me what made me think I could look after her boy, I pointed to the photo and explained that I had one just like it in my house from my own army service.”

Deeon and Joseph have supported the family ever since, attended their wedding and helped care for Danny when Yvonne’s life was nearly turned upside down.

Yvonne’s daughter Mekala Osborne was hospitalised with bronchial pneumonia while travelling in Vietnam in late 2019, put into an induced coma and given only a five per cent chance of survival.

On her return to the UK, she then spent more than a year recovering in hospital in Scotland.

Yvonne said: “I would not have been able to get on a flight after receiving the call about Mekala, and Jimmy would not have been able to join me in Vietnam, without Share the Care supporting Danny.

“It’s hard to put into words what Share the Care has meant to us.”

Deeon and Joseph described their role as carers as fun but not without its challenges.

Deeon said: “You get to have all of the fun of spending time with the child, sharing experiences with them, but none of the responsibilities of hospital appointments or dentists or school, although you support those areas as much as you can.”

Joseph added: “You have all of the fun of the children and the challenges that brings.

“It’s perfect.”

Leann Robinson, from East Lothian Council’s Share the Care service, said: “Our Share the Carers provide an amazing service for families.

“Families build up a bond over the years, as we can see from Yvonne, Jimmy, Deeon and Joseph, and it’s very rewarding to be a part of that.

“We need more Share the Carers to come forward to help us offer these essential breaks and make a real difference for families in our area.

“Carers can come from all walks of life, and we will support them throughout, as we do for the families who rely on the breaks.

“Even a few hours a week or a fortnight can make a huge difference for a family by giving them a chance to do something for themselves, meet friends, spend time with other children in the household or simply rest.

“We hope that others will be as inspired by Danny’s story as we have been and will come forward to become Share the Carers, making a real difference for families in East Lothian.”

Previous care experience is not essential as training and support is provided.

To find out more about Share the Care, visit www.eastlothian.gov.uk/ShareTheCare or call 01875 824090.