MUM Pooja Nayak, who was helped by Julia's House when she was at her lowest ebb after he daughter was diagnosed with a condition which means she cannot walk or talk, has spoken of her gratitude to the charity.

Mrs Nayak said the diagnosis of Rett Syndrome on her daughter Saiasha when she was a year old was a terrible shock. She said: "It was life changing for the whole family. It was really shattering. I knew there was something wrong but I had no idea it would be so serious.

"Julia's House came into our lives at the right time. It allowed me to feel like a normal person again. I can't thank them enough."

The Gazette's 200 Appeal for Julia's House which aims to raise £100,000 to pay for carers for all families in Wiltshire who need its help.

At the moment Saiasha, now three, receives 100 hours of help a year through the charity's Wiltshire home care service but once a new hospice is built in Devizes next year the whole family, including their son Sidhant, 12, will be able to receive more support.

Mrs Nayak, who like her husband Prasad is a dentist, said: "The existing hospice in Dorset is a long way for us to travel especially as I don't drive. It will be good for my son to be to able to talk to other children in the same situation.

"He has been effected badly by this diagnosis as well but he has no-one of a similar age he can talk about it with who really understands."

The family or doctors did not realise there was anything wrong with Saiasha when she was born but gradually Mrs Nayak began to worry when she did not reach normal childhood milestones.

Mrs Nayak from Salisbury said: "As a mother I knew there was something wrong when she wasn't sitting up but it took a long time to get a diagnosis. When it did come it was devastating."

Saiasha, who has a severe form of the degenerative condition which affects growth and development, looks younger that her three years and cannot walk or talk and is tube fed. Carers from Julia's House have been trained to feed her. This means that when they visit Mrs Nayak can get out of the house and do normal things with her son.

She said: "I like to spend time with him and take him swimming. Before Julia's House came into our lives I had no idea charities like this, which help whole families, existed. I cannot thank them enough."

The Gazette's appeal which is being backed by businesses, clubs, schools and individuals across the county will mean that many more families like the Nayaks will be able to given the lifeline they need.

Mrs Nayak said: "The work they do is incredible. We are very grateful. In the beginning nurses used to come to look after Saiasha but then the carers were gradually trained to know how to look after her.

"They are all fantastic and make a huge difference to our lives."