Caring sister's endless devotion

by Lynn News Friday - Published Date: 16 March 2009

SOPHIE Mummery excelled as a carer, friend and interpreter for her autistic and deaf brother, Matthew.

When he became seriously ill, Sophie was his bedside companion and playmate.

After Matthew sadly died of cancer at the age of eight, six-year-old Sophie bravely spoke about her brother to mourners at his funeral.

She has been nominated for a Lynn News Super Kids award by her aunt, Marion Lawson, who described her as a happy, sunny little girl and very mature for her age as a result of helping to care for her brother.

From the age of one, before she could even speak, Sophie could sign.

It was on her first birthday that Matthew was diagnosed with the childhood cancer, neuroblastoma, and had to spend the next nine months in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Sophie, of Grimston, was taken care of by her "Nanny Vi" and by Mrs Lawson and her husband, Phil, only seeing her parents once or twice a week when she was taken to hospital to visit.

When Matthew went into remission and returned home, he and Sophie became constant companions. "Sophie became her mum's eyes and ears whenever she was out of the room.

"She would keep Matthew safe and interpret his needs, telling others what he wanted from such an early age. They did almost everything together and where one was, the other was not far behind."

When Matthew got a place at the Royal School for the Deaf in Margate, Sophie missed him very much and looked forward to the weekends when he came home.

After his cancer returned and his health deteriorated, Sophie would sit beside his bed and watch his favourite films with him. She helped him with activities he could do from his bed until he became too ill to join in.

At Matthew's funeral in February, she stood up in church and talked to the packed congregation about the brother she loved and missed.

Mrs Lawson said: "Sophie has seen and experienced things no child should have to. Yet she has remained a happy, well-adjusted little girl – who also gives the best hugs around."

Source: http://www.lynnnews.co.uk/news/Carin...ion.5067913.jp

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