Beaming girl, 8, who’ll probably be blind, in a wheelchair & have dementia by 15 fulfils dream of meeting Ed Sheeran
BEAMING Caitlin Passey fulfilled one of her dreams this week when she met pop star Ed Sheeran – thanks to The Sun on Sunday.
We told last month how the adorable eight-year-old had been struck down by the rare and degenerative condition Batten disease last October. It is already causing her to go blind and will leave her a wheelchair user and suffering from dementia by age 15.
We asked YOU, our kind-hearted readers, to help her family raise money to adapt their home so they can care for her for as long as possible — and to help her achieve some of the adventures on a “memory list”.
One of those was to see Ed in concert. When the singer, 31, found out, he invited Caitlin to see him perform on the latest leg of his European tour in Munich, Germany.
Her dad Nick said: “It was a phenomenal night, simply unreal. I can’t thank Ed and The Sun on Sunday enough.
“Nothing could have prepared us for such a magical evening. We were told we would meet Ed but expected a quick meet and greet.
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“It was a huge surprise when we were taken to his dressing room. When Caitlin saw him close up her jaw hit the floor.
“Ed talked to us for ages about everything and nothing. We felt like we’d known him for ever. He even took our phone and started taking selfies with us. Caitlin has been a fan for two years, so this was a dream come true.”
Kind-hearted Ed invited Caitlin, Nick, 38, mum Naomi, 32, and siblings Oliver, nine, and Joseph, five, to watch him.
The offer came after we told about her bucket list of dreams and asked you to help raise £200,000 to adapt her house in Over, Cambs, to meet her increasing needs.
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Batten is a rare disease affecting 30 to 50 kids in the UK. Life expectancy can be as low as 20.
Almost £43,000 has been raised so far and The Sun on Sunday has delivered Harry Potter merchandise donated by Warner Bros Studios, plus an inflatable hot tub courtesy of Lay-Z-Spa.
EasyJet, which flew the family to Munich and back said: “We were delighted to be able to help the Passey family in making this happen.”
The night before their flight, the family were treated to complimentary rooms at the Hampton by Hilton hotel at Gatwick Airport.
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The hotel’s general manager said: “We were delighted to be able to welcome Caitlin and her family and extend our Hilton hospitality.
When we heard the inspiring story of what Caitlin and her family want to do we were honoured to play a small part in their plans.”
How you can help
YOU can help raise funds at gofundme.com/f/SafeHaven4– Caitlin. Or maybe you own a building company which could help with supplying materials or would like to help her fulfil her bucket list.
Email sundayfeatures@the-sun.co.uk with “Caitlin” in the email subject and include any support you might be able to offer.