The CloudCuddle ensures that you can also get some sleep yourself because you know your child is lying safely.

After Fifteen Years, Finally Going on Vacation Again

Esther Bouma and her family hadn’t been on vacation together for fifteen years. So when her husband Wouter discovered the CloudCuddle, they were immediately interested. Could the bed tent be something for their daughter Jemima (20)? They tried the CloudCuddle for a weekend and concluded that it provides a safe sleeping environment. The application for reimbursement was – to say the least – not straightforward.

“Jemima has an indication VG07, which is the heaviest care category. Until her third year, she developed ‘normally’; she was a very sweet child, but due to the MMR vaccination against mumps, measles, and rubella, she became severely disabled,” Esther Bouma explains. A bitter pill to swallow, but the family, which also includes two other children aged 29 and 25, pulled together and arranged all the care she needs.

Going on Vacation

“In 2023, I was looking for an aid to be able to take Jemima on vacation. That’s when I discovered the CloudCuddle,” says father Wouter van ‘t Zand. The parents requested a trial weekend, were immediately convinced of the positive effect on their daughter and the whole family, and submitted a reimbursement application to the municipality’s WMO desk. “Jemima usually bangs and kicks against the walls when she’s in bed. The CloudCuddle absorbs that,” he explains. The family wants to use the bed tent during vacations.

Legal Aid Insurance

Despite the positive advice from the WMO desk, the committee responsible decided that a CloudCuddle was not necessary. The family then enlisted legal aid. “I recommend everyone with a child with a disability to get legal aid insurance,” Esther Bouma advises. “This isn’t the first time we’ve achieved something for our daughter through this route.” An objection was filed against the municipality’s decision, and when that also failed, the case went to court.

Reviewing the Case Again

“The municipality argued that Jemima had already received enough aids, such as a tandem bike. The judge ruled that the municipality had to reconsider the case and pay the legal costs. Subsequently, the reimbursement for the CloudCuddle was granted,” Jemima’s mother explains. In total, it took a year before the family could actually purchase the bed tent.

A Safe Place

“Because it took so long, we had bought a cheap bed tent in the meantime that was actually meant for toddlers. It couldn’t withstand Jemima’s nighttime kicking and banging her head. The CloudCuddle is a safe place for her. The first time we set it up at home for a trial, she immediately stepped into the bed tent. Jemima actually finds it quite cozy. The CloudCuddle fits perfectly in our caravan and folding cart. We bring her own foam mattress, and the bed tent fits well around it,” Esther Bouma adds.

Better Sleep for Everyone

Life is busy with a child needing intensive care living at home. To conclude, Jemima’s mother adds: “The CloudCuddle also ensures you can get some sleep yourself because you know your child is lying safely. Moreover, the bed tent is easy to use.”