A CWMBRAN woman who suffers from a rare brain condition may get her Christmas wish to spend time with her family as construction on a ramp begins.

Lisa Wilcox, 32, developed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (Adem) earlier this year which has left her in unable to walk or speak.

Her family wanted to install a temporary ramp to allow her visit at Christmas, and through the help of community driven residents, their dream may become reality.

“This is a lifeline for my daughter and it just means everything to us,” said Anthony Wilcox, Lisa’s father.

“She can’t speak but she uses an alphabet board to communicate with us and she tells us that all she wants is to come home for Christmas and be with her son.”

Miss Wilcox is currently a patient at the Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff, and has spent almost a year in their care since developing Adem.

Mr Wilcox, 54, of Farlays, Coedeva, regularly visits his daughter with his wife Ceri, but the pair have received a number of offers to help their situation.

“This gives her something to fight for,” said Mr Wilcox.

“When she’s lying in that bed, her mind, which has not been affected, is spinning as she’s still thinking about coming home to see her son.”

The temporary ramp will be finished next week after Dave Simpson and Ray Watkins started work on the framework today.

“Whatever happens, we will make Christmas day happen for the family, even if we have to come up here on Christmas morning,” said Cwmbran resident Mr Simpson.

“Community spirit is perhaps a little lost across society so it is time that community spirit started working for people again.”

Miss Wilcox will hopefully test the ramp for sturdiness once it is completed next week, which will allow her to spend Christmas with her son.

Rob Hatherall, a school friend of Mr Wilcox, has helped to finance the ramp, and has helped the family with their trips to Cardiff.

“It doesn’t matter about how much it costs - it needs to be done,” said Mr Hatherall, who is the owner of Cwmbran’s Tiger Taxi firm.