Something as simple as a CloudCuddle creates so much more freedom

Femke Wissink (41) and he rhusband Michiel (45) have no tgone on vacation together for several years. Nowadays, they take turns, each going away with their eldest daughter Liene (12). The parent who stays home takes care of Kaat (10), who requires constant one-on-one support. Formost of the week, the parents take care of hert hemselves. And that is demanding – although you won’t hear a single complaint during thisi nterview. A solution like the CloudCuddle can make a big difference.

Waking up

At home, Kaat sleeps in a bed box. There, she can lie safely and calmly. “She sometimes wakes up at night and then wants to get out. It’s a good thing she can’t, because Kaat doesn’t recognize danger. In a regular bed, she could easily walk out of her room and, for example, take the stairs. And that’s life-threatening,” her mother explains.

Genetic research

Shortly after birth, it became clear that Kaat was developing differently from most babies. “She barely developed, she was rigid, lived in her own world, and her body was floppy. There were also sever alphysical characteristics that made doctors suspect something was wrong. After three genetic tests, it turned out she had a rare hereditary disorder in the TBL1XR1 gene.”

Delayed development

Femke: “Kaat’s development is significantly delayed. In the beginning, she had a feeding tube because she couldn’t drink properly. She also had to learn to eat and chew step by step. She can now walk, thanks to regular practice with aids. Her speech is limited to words and shor tsentences, at a basic level. People who know her well can understand her fairly well. Kaat also uses a speech computer.”

On vacation

Until about th eage of four, the family went on vacation or short trips together. In her younger years, they brought along a Deryan campingtent for Kaat. Femke: “When she out grew it, we thought: what now? The occupational therapist who had often helped us with aids for Kaat knew about the CloudCuddle. We tried and tested it once, and soon aftert hat we purchased one ourselves. The occupational therapist, who had already been supporting Kaat for a longer time, arranged the reimbursement through the WMO office of themunicipality of Lochem.”

Easily overstimulated

Thanks to the CloudCuddle, the family was able to go on vacation together a few more times. “As Kaat grew older, we noticed that unfamiliar environments are too overwhelming for her. She becomes overstimulatede asily. Others have to set boundaries and think for her. She is ten years old, but her development al level is that of a toddler. On vacation, but also at home, we could no longer go on outings with her. She constantly runs off and doesn’t understand what is and isn’t allowed. We cannot guide her verbally; she constantly needs proximity and supervision. At some point we said: going on vacation together is no longer possible. Dailylife at home is already complicated enough. We tried for several years, but it was no longer feasible for her or for us.”

Visiting friends

In the beginning, the family also used the CloudCuddle when visiting friends or relatives. That’s no longer the case. These days, the CloudCuddle still proves useful during the weekly babysitting day at her grandparents’ house. “Every Wednesday afternoon they take care of Kaat in their own home. She can rest or sleep there peacefully,” Femke explains.

A lot to arrange

“It would be great if more families knew about the CloudCuddle. We heard about it by chance a few years ago through the occupational therapist. Parents of children who require a lot of care already have so much to do and organize. Something as simple as a CloudCuddle can bring a lot of relief. The people who decide on reimbursements for assistive devices sometimes have no idea how much freedom and extra options such a solution provides. It has helped us tremendously. It’s wonderful! It’s practical, easy to use, and comes with a clear manual. And it’s sturdy. Kaat can be a bit clumsy in her movements, but that’s not a problem. Recently, we saw the new CloudCuddle at a trade show. It’s slightly higher and bigger. We said to each other: if Kaat outgrows the Junior, we can always switch to that one.”