A Carrickfergus mum says she wants to do everything she can to keep her disabled daughter at home for as long as possible, after she was diagnosed with a rare condition.
Caroline McGookin's daughter Ruby was recently diagnosed with MYT1L Syndrome, which brings several complications for the seven-year-old.
"It causes a lot of difficulties in her life, including autism, severe learning difficulties, severe complex needs, hypotonia, she's disabled and she uses a wheelchair," said Caroline.
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"Now she can walk, but really only around the house but she wouldn't be able to walk if we were outside or anything.
"In her bedroom at the minute, it's a wee box room and she has a specialist bed and it takes up the majority of the room, so she can't play in her room like an ordinary child.
"She can't go and get her toys in her room and have her wee bit of independence."
Ruby's family are hoping to build a downstairs bedroom and wet room for her, which will help practically and give her some more independence in the house.
"It's getting to the stage now where Ruby is quite heavy to lift and we have to carry her up the stairs and into the bath for her bath at night time," Caroline said.
"It's a lot of lifting and with her problems, her temper and all, when she's getting tired at night she would bang her heads off the wall and we've had a few wee accidents with that already.
"My husband and I have both hurt our backs and my shoulder is wrecked just from lifting.
"It will just give Ruby that bit more independence plus it's going to keep her at home longer.
"Essentially she will end up in care but we're hoping that won't be until she's an adult, because we want to keep her at home as long as possible and look after her ourselves."
The family are trying to crowdfund as much of the building work as they can due to the high cost.
"For her bedroom and wet room, it's costing just over £61,000 and the grant that the Housing Executive is giving us is just over £30,000," said Caroline.
"So we're having to find just over £30,000 for Ruby's part of the build so that's why we set up the crowdfunding page.
"Everything has just went up with the cost-of-living and we're just trying to find the extra bit of money.
"We've set a target of £10,000 on the crowdfunder because we didn't want to put £30,000 and freak people out."
Caroline said she hoped they would be able to make as many memories with Ruby for as long as possible.
"She's a really great wee girl and she loves her surroundings, she loves TV, but sometimes she just needs her own space if she's having a temper tantrum.
"It's just for her to have her own place to go to."
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