Following the recent deaths of Heather Wardle and her disabled son James Hughes, reporter Lucy Richardson meets single mother Liz Knight, from Redcar, to see how she copes with the day to day care of her severely physically and mentally disabled son

MATTHEW Knightfs bedroom is decorated with Middlesbrough Football Club wallpaper, cuddly toys sit on a shelf and a plastic beaker rests on his pillow. But Matthew is not a toddler: he is a physically and mentally disabled 17-year-old who will need 24-hour care for the rest of his life.

His mother changes his nappies, feeds him and comforts him when he bites her out of frustration.

Yet, she says she would not have him any other way.

Liz Knight, 42, lives in Redcar with Matthew and her 11-year-old daughter, Laura. After a normal pregnancy and an easy labour, Matthew was born two weeks overdue weighing 9lbs 2oz.

When he was a few months old he started to have fits and by the time he was one, and under the care of several hospital consultants, Liz knew he wasn't developing.

Matthew has never been able to walk or talk. He now suffers from curvature of the spine and is unable to use his arms, yet to Liz he has a lively personality.

"If he wants his nappy changing, he will wail as he hates being wet. He can be very demanding," she says. "He certainly has his own character and he has a wicked sense of humour. If Laura hurts herself or is crying, Matthew will laugh. If he sees a cup of tea or a piece of cake, he will stare at it until you give him some." Matthew loves balloons, the film Babe and watching horse racing, Formula One and football on television.

Until an extension was put on her home eight years ago to accommodate a downstairs bedroom, bathroom and wheelchair ramp for Matthew, Liz had to carry Matthew up and down stairs and lift him into and out of the bath.

She feeds him liquidised cooked meals which are topped up by supplements fed by a tube into his stomach which was inserted when he was ten.

Liz, 42, says: "He doesn't lash out but if he is uncomfortable or has a twinge of pain, he will bite me. I know how to read the warning signs now and the best thing is for me to put him on his bed and let him relax." Matthew goes to nearby Kirkleatham Hall school for children with special needs which he will attend until he is 19. He also goes into a respite home for a few days every six weeks to give Liz the opportunity to spend quality time with Laura.

"Laura misses out on a lot as I can't go out with her as often as I would like," says Liz. "For my 40th birthday Laura and I went on holiday to Cyprus and when Matthew is in respite care we enjoy girly shopping trips to Newcastle or York.

"I would like extra help, but there is a fine line between help and interference. I think health professionals should take more notice of what the parents and carers say.

"There are times when I find it difficult to cope but usually itfs when both children are ill at the same time. This has gone on for such a long time that I've reached the point where I've got to go on with it. There are a lot of people who are even worse off than Matthew, children who are like him but can't see or hear.

"When you have a child with special needs it makes you stronger because you have to fight for everything you think your child needs. If you get your sleep, that's half the battle. If you don't, it can be very hard the next day. But I would not have him any other way, I brought him into this world." Liz admits that thinks about the milestone moments Matthew has missed and about what the future holds for her son, who will turn 18 in January.

"He will be leaving school when he is 19 and although some disabled people go into independent units, I don't think that would be right for Matthew. I think I will keep him at home as the three of us are very close and he would think he had been abandoned," says Liz.

To give her something creative to do when she is at home, Liz has launched a business, Icing Craft, specialising in individually designed wedding cakes. After making cakes for friends and family for 20 years, Liz studied cake decorating and sugar craft at Redcar Adult Education Centre for five years before setting up her company three years ago.

"When one of my best friends from school died, I thought 'I am going to do something for me'," she says. "Lots of people did not think I would manage to make it work with all that I have to cope with but the business is now up and running.

"When I am baking and icing cakes, that is my time and it is very relaxing. I really enjoy it as I can switch off from all my other problems." For more information about her cakes contact Liz on 01642-501177 or visit www.icingcraft.co.uk