A DISABLED double-transplant patient and his young family are still homeless...almost two weeks after floods wrecked their house in Rayleigh.
Wayne Tilbrook, 34, his wife and three children have been placed in temporary hotel accommodation in the Holiday Inn Hotel, Basildon, since the August 24 floods.
The torrential downpour left the family’s Sanctuary housing association home flooded with sewage after a nearby drain failed to cope.
Mr Tilbrook, who had a kidney and pancreas transplant in May, said: “The housing department only book the hotel for a few days at a time so we have to keep leaving and then going back.
“They book a family room which only allows four people to stay at one time so we also have the added stress of having to leave Chloe with relatives. “She is upset already because of the upheaval and just wants to be with us.”
Mr Tilbrook underwent surgery after spending 18-months on dialysis when his kidneys failed because of type 1 diabetes. He was left unable to walk because the operation left him with a trapped femoral nerve in his left leg.
Mr Tilbrook, of Pearson Avenue, said: “I have to take anti-rejection drugs and mustn’t be around anything which might cause infection so there is no question of going back there.”
The family have found it hard getting Chloe and five-year-old Lana from Basildon to Glebe School in Rayleigh. Abbie, three, also attends a day nursery opposite the school.
Mr Tilbrook added: “It’s a nightmare. Sanctuary have been unable to help us or tell us when we will ge rehomed.” The home flooded because of a faulty drain and despite knowing about it since 2010, neither the council or housing association has rectified the problem.
Mrs Tilbrook, 34, said “no words” could describe how she feels about the disruption to her family. She said: “Everything on the ground floor was ruined, the cooker, fridge freezer and our furniture.
“It’s terrible for the children because they just want their own bedrooms and toys back.” It is estimated repairs to the family home could take up to four months.
Karen Johnson, managing director for Rochford Housing Association part of Sanctuary Group said: “We understand the disruption this will have caused and want to reassure the family that we are working as quickly as possible to find suitable temporary accommodation which fits their particular needs.”
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