Shopper devastated after children, mother laugh at severely disabled daughter

By Mark Duell

A shopper was devastated when children stopped to point and laugh at her severely disabled daughter in Tesco - only for their mother to join in.

Bethan Germon, 30, was shopping in the supermarket in Fforest-fach, Swansea, when two young boys started to point and laugh at her 1-year-old toddler Lydia.

But to the horror of mother-of-two Germon, who has also had to regularly deal with online abuse from trolls, the boys' mum then joined in.

Lydia was born with a rare and incurable condition called Dandy Walker syndrome, which causes an endless build-up of fluid to the brain, the MailOnline reported.

She said: "I was dreading going to Tesco as supermarkets are the worst place for horrible comments and behaviour.

"As we were leaving, there were a couple of kids there mocking Lydia, which isn't unusual. The mum asked them quite loudly what they were laughing at.

"When they pointed at Lydia she laughed with them. They were pointing and giggling uncontrollably.

"Usually when this happens, they cling onto their mum or dads as they are not sure how to deal with a child like Lydia. Generally the behaviour of the parent is to get angry and tell them off.

"What is the world coming to? I was so shocked. In my head I thought that what I had heard was wrong, but my mum was here and she had heard it and she was glaring at the boy. The boy then put his two fingers up and stuck his tongue out at my mum.

"There's no point in saying anything as it would turn into an argument that I don't need. I didn't want to upset Lydia or my eldest daughter Caitlin."

Bethan Germon, 30, was shopping in a Tesco Extra supermarket in Fforest-fach, Swansea, when two young boys started to point and laugh at her toddler Lydia. Photo / Facebook

When Lydia was aged just 2 months old, Germon was told she only had hours to live. But now, the little girl is nearly 2 and still fighting.

The NHS eventually gave her the surgery she needed, although Germon and her partner David initially thought they would have to fly her to the US for special treatment.

Lydia has suffered from meningitis and sepsis during her short life, and the damage to her brain has left her with cerebral palsy.

The little girl's ventilator was turned off in January last year but miraculously she kept fighting and her condition improved.

Germon has also had to regularly deal with online abuse from trolls.

People have told her she should have had an abortion, and that "if that was my child I would let her die".

"Sometimes we respond; sometimes we don't," Germon said.

"Whenever we are in a supermarket people think it's okay to make rude comments. One woman looked into her pram and said that Lydia was disgusting."

Germon is hoping to campaign and raise awareness of the lack of education around children with disabilities.

She said; "I've had about 10 mums contact me since Monday night saying how this happens to them regularly. I've had enough of the criticism and if people don't start educating others then the ignorance will continue.

"I want all mums to feel proud of their babies and feel confident to go shopping with them, without fear. We don't want parents to grab their kids or be angry with them, kids are curious beings.

"They just want to know why someone is different. We don't want the parents joining in either.

"The perfect scenario will be for the parents to bring their kids over and ask us questions and speak to Lydia, provided they are well and free of coughs or colds."

A Tesco spokesman said: "Everyone is welcome at Tesco and abuse of any kind has no place in our stores.

"We look forward to welcoming Ms Germon and her daughter back to our Swansea Cadle Extra and are pleased to hear that our colleagues have been very supportive."

Germon has set up a JustGiving page to help Lydia get the support, treatments and therapies she needs for a better life.