Ciaran's Story
The first signs of spring are starting to appear; a ray of sunshine bathing the street in light after a shower of rain, the scent of a flower bud, the laughter of children who can finally play outside again. We can all feel it in the air as it lifts our mood with the promise of summer.
But Ciaran doesn’t notice.
He doesn’t see the changing light. Doesn’t hear the birds. Doesn’t smell the morning dew. Because you see, Ciaran just stays in his room.
His world is just filled with darkness.
Here’s what Ciaran’s version of spring used to feel like, the things he did see and hear.
There was the darkness when he hid under the covers so he wouldn’t hear his parents arguing. The muffled sound of their voices through the duvet. The smell of his sheets which hadn’t been changed in a little too long.
Because Ciaran’s parents are both struggling with addiction. Recently he’s been living with his grandparents. And his parents, who he sees twice a month, are all he can think about. Their faces all he can see. Their voices all he can hear. How could he notice anything else when the people he loves most in the world fell apart in front of him?
Because he might be thirteen years old, but like every teenager, deep inside him is a little boy who needs his mam and dad.
It was Ciaran’s grandparents, who he’s now living with, who called Barnardos for help. They were getting so worried about him. He just seemed to be spiralling down, closing his shell a little more every day.
In Barnardos, we see the impact that parental addiction can have on the wellbeing and development of a child. Thanks to donations, we work with the whole family to manage this impact, and to support nurturing relationships between the children and their parents.
By donating today you can help ensure that Ciaran receives the one-to-one support he needs to understand and cope with his trauma, reducing its impact on his future life.
We are so grateful for every single gift. Any amount you can afford will make a difference to a child’s life.
Every single donation goes a long way in making a difference to the lives of children like Ciaran.
While Ciaran’s story is based on real events, we have changed all names and some other details in order to protect the family’s identity. Photos used are models.
