When Mark was just eight months old we were informed that he was visually impaired - at 10 months we were told that Mark had learning difficulties at 18 months we sadly realised that he was also physically disabled.
Mark was our first and as it happened - our only child. Our hitherto quiet, peaceful lifestyle turned into a chaotic nightmare as Mark wasn't a very happy baby! He wasn't a happy toddler either! To try and entertain Mark we sang, we played, we lost stones in weight - taking him out in a great cumbersome pram - all to no avail.
We coped but we wouldn't have succeeded without the unstinting support from our families. There was no professional help or guidance at that time - just when it was very badly needed.
When Mark was 10 years old a colleague at work - Ernie Hyde - told me of his plans that he and his wife Barbara - along with Alan and Mary Chapman (who had their own disabled son Richard) - had for providing short stay respite care for people with both learning and physical disabilities.
Here at last was help. Here at last was hope for the future.
Their idea eventually became the formation of the Rossendale Trust and Mark became the very first person to stay at the Short Stay Unit as a very welcome guest. This was October 1976.
For the first time in nearly 13 years his Dad and I were able to have a holiday without what could be described as 'hassle'. However our feelings were very much mixed although we never doubted the assurances that Mark would receive all the care and attention he needed.
Did we enjoy our holiday? No - we were bored to tears. We just didn't know what to do with our unaccustomed freedom and felt so much at a loss and we also felt uncomfortable at trying to enjoy ourselves without the presence of Mark.
I don't really know what happened at Rossendale during Mark's first week - but Mark was a completely different person when he came back home. He was happy and contented and - thank goodness - he's never reverted back to his former uncontrollable ways since.
Thank you Rossendale - Eileen Goodwin (Mother).
Welcome to the World of Mark in 2006
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Well 30 years has now elapsed since Mark first became a guest of Rossendale and to Mark's credit he is still very pro-active even though confined to his wheelchair for the majority of time. However he is always trying to stand up in the wheelchair and just loves playing on the floor - so energetic is Mark that woe betide anyone who gets in the way as he is just like a 'steamroller'!
Mark is now partially sighted and can only control the use of one hand - however this does not really restrict him as he has adapted himself to thoroughly enjoy life.
Matthew - Mark's young nephew - who really enjoys playing with Mark - something which is reciprocated as Mark really appreciates and responds well to having an uninhibited child interacting with himself.
Mark also likes being outside - watching the other residents at play or working at the Oakwood Project.
Mark currently communicates to the people around him through a series of grunts, groans and sometimes screams when indicating his needs - as transpired when Mark was taken on a trip to visit Manchester City Centre with a Carer. Mark indicated that he wanted to stay much much longer in the city and 'persuaded' the Carer to take him for a coffee at the very least - with which Mark was well satisfied!