Award chance for teen who cares for dying mum

Peter Swindon • Published 20 Jul 2009 13:18 2 Comments

A Lochgelly teenager, who is a full-time carer to his dying mother, has been nominated for a Young People of the Year award.

The new competition, which has won the support of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is aimed at recognising positive young role models.

Seventeen-year-old Pavanveer is dedicated to his mum Ranjit who suffers from motor neurone disease (MND).

The former Beath High School pupil has been looking after her at their home in Auchterderran Road for three years.

Pavanveer's dad, Komar, runs the family business - Key Stores, also in Auchterderran Road - while his 13-year-old brother, Harveer, is still at school. His grandmother, Komal, also live with the family.

Ranjit was diagnosed with the muscle wasting illness seven years ago. She now has difficulties with speech, swallowing and breathing. The family recently learned that the 42-year-old is dying.

As well as acting as his mum's main carer, Pavanveer also helps his dad in the newsagents from 5-7am before returning home to get his mum up and start his long day looking after her.

He explained, "I wake up at 5am to help my dad set up and return home at 7am to wake my mum up and help her to the toilet and get dressed. I then sort out breakfast for her and my brother.

"We live in a bungalow but I still have to help mum walk back and forth from the bathroom, and anywhere else in the house.

"During the day I stay at home mostly. Sometimes I have to visit the cash-and-carry for my dad during the day, but only if someone is there with my mum.

"My gran makes the dinner but I help my mum with the eating. Then later I help her get ready for bed. The last thing I do is set up my mum's ventilator before bed, which helps her breathe through the night."

After leaving Beath High, the teenager did not have the option of continuing his education because he was desperately needed at home.

"I would have liked to get a job after finishing school, or get some training, but that is not possible at the moment," he said. "I do feel sad sometimes but I have been helping my mum for so long that I don't know any different.

"I'm a hard worker and I don't mind doing things at home.

"At the end of the day she is my mum and it's my job to help her.

"She always tells me that I am a good boy and that she couldn't do without my help."

Pavanveer was nominated for the award by his aunt Ravinder.

"He is such a brilliant child," she said. "He stays at home round the clock to look after his mum and looks after the whole family too.

"It's sad to see him have no time to himself, because he is forced to do this."

Dad, Komar, added, "He's great for doing this."

The Young People of the Year awards (YOPEY), set up by former national newspaper journalist Tony Gearing, has won the support of Gordon Brown, who held a reception at Downing Street for previous winners.

"He has called YOPEY a "wonderful celebration of Britain's youth."

In Scotland, the young people are competing for £6,000 in prize money put up by Scottish sweet manufacturer, Buchanan's. There are 14 prizes ranging from £200 to £2000.

Buchanan's of Scotland boss Douglas Rae said, "The sacrifices Pavanveer is making to look after his mum so that his dad can keep running the family business are huge.

"He deserves recognition for this."

For further information about the awards , or to nominate a young person, visit www.yopey.org.

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• 

  kenny dick
  Unregistered User
  Jul 21, 09:03
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  really good to see a teenager doing the right thing by his family,i regulary shop at the newsagent and didn,t know any of this,just goes to show they just get on with it and don,t feel self pitty.all the best for the boy,s family and hope he gets some form of recognition.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

• 

  
  Unregistered User
  Jul 24, 05:14
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  nice to see someone of 17 yrs with a big heart .. since most of the areas i`ve lived in people in this age group haven`t given a damn .. about looking out for ill family members...but for those who do ..they seem to be a rare sight , & often don`t get any recognition apart from the people they look after...my girlfriends mum is in ful time care at a care home .. wasn`t till we started helping out at the care home on a regular basis that i noticed how difficult an undertaking it is to help looking after someone ..my heart goes out to Pavaneer & if more people were like him willing to give up all or even a small amount of their time to look after an ill or elderly relative or friend or even someone in the area.. lochgelly would be a better place to live . just sad that many people like Pavaneer don`t always get the recognition they truely deserve.
  
  Recommend?   Yes 0     No 0

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