Business helps pay rent for poorly Emilee

A kind-hearted business has stepped in to pay rent arrears for a family who are unable to work as they wait by their sick baby daughter’s incubator.
Emilee Jayne CooperEmilee Jayne Cooper
Emilee Jayne Cooper

Following an online appeal, Pall Mall Carpets and Beds Ltd, in Lower Ince, Wigan, has offered to pay the rent to allow Danielle Bishop and parnter Lea Cooper to keep their Platt Bridge home.

The couple made a desperate plea as they had fallen behind due to caring for four-and-a-half-month-old Emilee Jayne, who was born at just 27 weeks.

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Whilst Lea, 45, was able to carry on working at his events security company, Emilee’s deterioration has meant he has also had to give up work to watch over her at St Mary’s Hospital, in Manchester.

As a result, the couple had missed 12 weekly payments and owed £1,126.

The private landlord, Edward Davies, sent Danielle a text, saying he had given the family enough leniency and insisted money was received within 24 hours, or he would give two weeks’ notice to leave.

He said that as their contract stated they were to pay weekly - they were around 12 weeks late and he was entitled to give them 14 days’ notice.

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Mr Davies, who lives in St Helens, said; “I am pleased it is all sorted - we all owe Pall Mall a big thank you.”

Emilee is currently on the neonatal intensive care unit at St Mary’s Hospital, where she has been ventilated for the last 18 weeks. She suffers from both heart and bowel defects requiring surgery, chronic breathing difficulties and has had two bleeds on the brain and she has problems with her eyes.

Danielle, 27, said: “We are overwhelmed by the positive response we have had and the fact that Pall Mall has offered to pay the money.

“We are so grateful for the donations and everyone’s messages.

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“There have also been negative comments which is unfair. Emilee is really poorly - so we cannot just ‘get a job.’ This is not about us - this is about Emilee and my eight-year-old son Dylan.

“She needs us both. Dylan stayed at my mum’s for the first two months but he was missing us so he stays with us at Ronald McDonald and school has given him work. But he will have to go back to school in the New Year,

“We are both self employed, and so not entitled to benefits.”

Wigan and Leigh Homes has also been in contact with Danielle, proving support and advice.

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Their next rent - which has now switched to monthly - of £433 is due by January 15.

A Just Giving page has been set up to help pay for future rent, with these funds only being available in mid January.

Anyone wishing to donate can visit https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/Emilee-Jayne