Clover House Therapy - The Complementary Therapy Centre for Children

My son has suffered with severe Crohn's disease since he was a baby. For 14 years his life was full of tests, needles, medication, nasal-gastric feeding, catheters, and hospitalisations. There was the threat of a colostomy, and my son was too unwell to attend mainstream school. Every day was living with pain, diarrhoea, sickness, blood loss, weight loss. Our whole life was upset and for 14 years he needed 24 hour care. He often didn’t sleep for days on end. I have two other children thankfully who are well, but they have suffered, as my son's need was continuous.

In December 1999 my son's illness took a turn for the worst, and he was admitted to hospital to enable morphine to be prescribed for 4 days. I had not slept, my son grabbing an odd 20 minute nap here and there. His stomach was rock hard; he hadn't eaten or drunk anything for days. The four days drained me of caring; I could not care any longer, I was exhausted. It felt as though I had been by his bedside for the past 14 years, sleeping on a chair whilst he was hospitalised.

When they gave him morphine he was able to sleep with no pain. I made a promise then and there that there had to be another answer to Ben's health. I did not want my son to rely on morphine, nasal gastric feeding and medication as a way to live.

My son’s illness was destroying his life; he had not experienced friendships, going to school, or the carefree everyday life that other healthy children have. He would watch lads play through the window. He had to be by a toilet at all times; he would go to the toilet about 11 times a day, and about five times at night.

My son had expressed that life was too hard to carry on, that the pain was too much.

I discussed with his Dad that we had to try something else, that for all the 14 years with hospital treatments they have not worked for our son. It took me weeks of searching, when I came across a leaflet saying, "We treat the child, not the illness" for Clover House. I found this comforting, as I was careful not to do anything that would harm Ben. So after filling out a sample questionnaire I had an appointment within a few days to go to Clover House.

I had not ventured into this area before; however, we went with an open mind. We were greeted with open arms, which I found astonishing, as with hospitals there can be long waiting times and no affection. I had built up a wall over the past 14 years, so I was very careful. I spoke for my son a lot of the time, as it was the nor, with hospitals- the doctors would speak to me over Ben's head - Clover House wanted to listen to Ben. At first I found this hard, but soon realised that that he could speak for himself and that what he had to say was important.

He spent time doing Imagery with Basil. This enabled Ben to express his thoughts, feelings and fears and to express his concerns unconditionally. He was able to say that he was unhappy with his lifestyle of pain. He imagined away his pain as knives to be melted away.

Ben had nutrition sessions with Carole who gave advice about his diet; she suggested goat’s milk, yeast free bread, no preservatives, artificial colour, flavouring, no fizzy drinks and only plain crisps. He had vitamins and time was spent teaching us both about nutrition and Ben has improved immensely.

We also did Aromatherapy Massage with Jill, which Ben and I have found this very beneficial. I feel re-charged. I have plenty of love and care to give. I have been taught to massage Ben (and my other children)

Ben is confident and for the first time in his life he can go out. He has made friends and he feels he does not have to be chained to a toilet, nor watch through the window at other kids. He is out there with them.

His medication which, was at high doses, is coming down. This is a first. He is well, he looks healthy and the darkness has gone. He is starting to grow again; he had stopped growing for 4 years. He has suffered no pain or discomfort and wants to live, because he now say's 'Life's worth living." My wall has come down, and the change that I wished for has happened; a smile on my sons face, a smile of happiness, no pain, no discomfort, a smile of contentment.

 I now have three healthy children.

He has a lot of years to catch up on and looks forward to a normal life.

If anyone has an ill child, do not give up when everything looks hopeless, seek and find alternatives. As I took that frightening step, it all worked out better than I could imagine.

I always thought that alternative medicine would be beyond my expenses, but Clover House accepted that money was not an issue. I would like to thank everyone who donates to Clover House, as they have made it possible for people like myself and my son to receive the choice of alternative medicine.