A young carer from Ipswich devoted to helping her disabled sister is being praised for a decade of unwavering support by her parents as the UK marks Young Carers Awareness Day.

Ipswich Star: Back in 2013 Isobelle walked five miles to the Ipswich Hospital to mark her sister Skylas fifth birthday. Picture: SU ANDERSONBack in 2013 Isobelle walked five miles to the Ipswich Hospital to mark her sister Skylas fifth birthday. Picture: SU ANDERSON (Image: Archant)

Isobelle Creamer, who is 12 and in her first year at Ipswich Academy, was just two-and-a-half when her younger sister Skyla-Rae was born in 2008.

Skyla was born prematurely at 32 weeks with extensive brain damage.

Now nine, she is unlikely to survive her teenage years – and suffers from a number of complex medical problems.

But none of this appears to have phased Isobelle in the decade since she took on the role of young carer.

Ipswich Star: Isobelle pictured with the shoes she used for a charity walk to raise money for the organisations that have helped her sister in 2013. Picture: PHIL MORLEYIsobelle pictured with the shoes she used for a charity walk to raise money for the organisations that have helped her sister in 2013. Picture: PHIL MORLEY (Image: Archant)

“From a very young age Isobelle was thrown into a world of disability which we were not prepared for at all,” her parents Avril and David said.

“When she was younger and her problems still emerging, Skyla would regularly require an ambulance to rush her into resus to help her stop having seizures.

“Within a matter of weeks, Isobelle would know exactly what to do when we said we were calling ‘our friends in green’, and help us to pack a hospital bag with all of Skyla’s medicines and spare clothes.”

They added: “Over the years Isobelle has witnessed many scary and worrying episodes with her sister, but she takes it all in her stride and never fails to amaze us with her calm attitude and insistence in helping any way she can.”

Ipswich Star: Back in 2013 Isobelle walked five miles to the Ipswich Hospital to mark her sister Skylas fifth birthday. Picture: SU ANDERSONBack in 2013 Isobelle walked five miles to the Ipswich Hospital to mark her sister Skylas fifth birthday. Picture: SU ANDERSON (Image: Archant)

Their remarks come on Young Carers Awareness Day 2018, a national day aimed at identifying and raising awareness of the 700,000 young carers across Britain who are caring for a sick or disabled family member.

Isobelle has learned to give Skyla feeds and medications through her feeding tube, as Skyla is not able to eat orally, and knows how to administer oxygen in an emergency.

She is also able to talk to anyone about her sister’s needs and diagnosis – and has developed a life-saving skill in managing to keep Skyla safe during an epileptic seizure.

Her parents added: “Aside from the medical things, Isobelle and Skyla have a very strong bond which is very special to see.

“Isobelle is fiercely protective of her sister and takes great pride in pushing her wheelchair when we’re out and about, explaining to Skyla all that she can see and hear.

“Skyla is blind and has no understanding of the world, she is like a newborn baby mentally but that doesn’t stop Iz describing everything to her.”

They continued: “Skyla loves listening to Isobelle reading to her and Isobelle helps Skyla to play games on her iPad.

“Of course the best thing that Isobelle does for Skyla is give her cuddles, whenever Skyla is not having a good day, a cuddle from Isobelle always makes her feel better.”

To discover more about Young Carers Awareness Day, visit the Carers Trust website.