Mum of "high-risk" toddler urges shoppers not to stockpile and "keep vulnerable in mind" amid coronavirus pandemic

A South Shields mum has urged shoppers not to stockpile and to “keep the vulnerable in mind”, as she struggles to find necessities for her disabled son.
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Kym Etherington, 19, has spoken of her desperate efforts to support her family, as scores of shoppers have been panic-buying household items amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Now Kym has issued a plea to fellow shoppers to “keep the vulnerable in mind” as she struggles to find basic supplies such as baby food and nappies for her three-year-old son.

Kym Etherington and Dylan Webster, with son Rayne, 3.Kym Etherington and Dylan Webster, with son Rayne, 3.
Kym Etherington and Dylan Webster, with son Rayne, 3.

The rare nerve condition, which affects the voluntary muscles means that he is unlikely to ever be able to walk and could develop feeding and breathing problems as he gets older.

Colds, viruses and sickness bugs could be life-threatening to Rayne, who has already been hospitalised a number of times with pneumonia.

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The family has been limiting contact with the outside world since the outbreak reached the UK several weeks ago and Rayne hasn’t left the house at all.

Rayne Webster has a rare spinal condition.Rayne Webster has a rare spinal condition.
Rayne Webster has a rare spinal condition.

“We’re only leaving the house to do the shopping and that’s it. I don’t want to risk carrying it and giving it to Rayne,” said Kym.

“There’s no specific guidance on what to do for a child with a muscular condition, but Rayne is high-risk as he has a very weak chest anyway.”

Kym has been left distraught by her inability to stock up on the basic essentials for her family.

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People stockpiling in the shops are taking too much and leaving nothing for those people who are high risk and vulnerable,” she said.

Kym and son Rayne.Kym and son Rayne.
Kym and son Rayne.

“We went to Asda to try and buy some paracetamol for Rayne and some cat food and there was nothing left - no nappies, baby food, nothing.”

Kym and her partner Dylan Webster, 21, are currently full-time carers to Rayne and the family relies on benefits to get by.

“It’s very difficult for us to be able to stockpile, we don’t have the funds to go and buy 10 packs of toilet roll,” she said.

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“It's actually made me cry, it's made me feel useless because I can't get the basic essentials my family needs. It's got me in bits, we haven't been paid yet and there is nothing left.

“Please keep the vulnerable in mind when you’re out shopping.”

On Sunday, March 15 some of the UK’s major supermarket retailers sent a joint letter to customers, urging them to shop responsibly and to work together to ensure there is enough food for everyone across the country.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Retailers are working incredibly hard to keep shops well stocked and deliveries running as smoothly as possible.

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"In the face of unprecedented demand as a result of coronavirus, food retailers have come together to ask their customers to support each other to make sure everyone can get access to the products they need."

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