A Co Fermanagh man living with a rare disability is being pushed into poverty by rising household bills as the cost of living crisis spirals.
Lee Martin, 37, from Enniskillen, has seen his electricity bills double in recent months and his mother Caroline Wheeler says the effects have been crippling.
Caroline said the contributions her son must make to his own care and the rising cost of living means he barely has the means to cover basic living costs.
Read more: Terminally ill Co Tyrone mum Jemma McGowan trolled for 'looking too good to have cancer'
Lee suffers from Diploid/Tripoid mosaicism, and is one of only around 60 people living with it globally.
Inflation has reached its highest point in 30 years as the price of goods continues to climb, while energy prices have also led to huge increases in bills in recent months.
“He was always on the breadline with his benefits because in his care package he has to pay £103 a week towards his care,” Caroline said.
“I was putting £50 a week on to his meter and now I’m putting in £100 a week.
“We have just been fighting trying to keep Lee alive, but when energy prices went up we are putting £100 a week now just to keep him warm.
“You could pay a mortgage with that money.
“He was in hospital there last month and we had to have him on IV machines and all hooked up to the electric as well.
“Everything in his home is powered by electric, and yes it’s a one off bill but it’s just crazy money at the minute.
“With energy prices and inflation and everything at the minute, it’s just crippling people completely.”
Caroline added that she has had to sell some of their possessions to try and make ends meet.
“You’re all the time scrimping and saving now, even with little things that mean so little to other people.
“It’s just crazy that you can’t live life the way you want to. He used to go out once or twice a week but he can’t do that any more.
“He would maybe go out and meet his friends for a cup of coffee or meet up for a wee dinner or social event, that’s just out the window now.
“We’ve even been selling things off that he doesn’t use, we’ve done all of that but now it’s just coming to the crunch.
“It’s just madness to think there is so much money being wasted in government, and I know Lee is not the only one.”
“If energy prices go on like they have inflated over the last year, he’ll probably not be able to afford his home or the equipment in it to keep him alive.”
Read more: Watch: Co Fermanagh people coping with cancer diagnosis finding solace in local group
Read more: Strabane community mourns death of local school teacher Caroline Browne
To get the latest breaking news from your county straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
