MORE than 1,400 people have signed a petition to help a terminally ill Haydon Bridge woman return home for what could be her last Christmas.

Before being struck down by motor neurone disease, Helen Easby was a busy mum-of-three, who picked up a national award for her work as a nursery teacher in 2008.

But since undergoing major surgery on a perforated bowel in August, the 50-year-old has been at the Hawthorns Care Centre in Peterlee, where she is breathing with the assistance of a ventilator.

And she can’t come home to her husband, Andrew, until a 24-hour care package is in place, complete with ventilator trained staff.

Despite the efforts of Northumberland County Council’s social services department, Helen and her family fear the care team won’t be appointed before the festive period.

As a last resort, Andrew, and Helen’s life-long friend, Samantha Rees, are both set to undergo training in how to operate the ventilation equipment.

Samantha has launched an online campaign to “Get Helen home for Christmas” and has also lobbied health secretary Jeremy Hunt.

Samantha said: “It’s a very frustrating time for Helen. After everything she has been through, she just wants to spend Christmas surrounded by her family, in the family home.

“It means everything to her and we want to do everything we possibly can to make this happens for her.”

Helen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in October 2014, after losing movement in her hands and arms.

A rare condition which progressively damages parts of the nervous system, at first she was told she had the slow progressive form of the disease, with a life expectancy of five to 10 years.

But in August, she was admitted to the critical care unit at Cramlington’s new Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, after feeling poorly on her return from a family holiday.

She required emergency surgery after it was discovered she had a perforated bowel and her condition has since deteriorated.

Samantha said: “Helen was told she would have to go to a specialist rehabilitation centre to prepare her for coming home and she did.

“But she never expected to be in this length of time and she knows she could be at home if a ventilator trained team was in place.

“Andy and myself are going to do the training, but it needs a team of people doing shifts to provide round-the-clock care.”

Samantha said Helen’s three children, Jessica (24), James (20), and Joseph (18) are all determined to join their parents for a family Christmas.

She added: “Helen doesn’t want them to remember her being in a hospital environment and getting her to Haydon Bridge for Christmas is our big priority.”

“I’ve promoted the online petition via social media and this has been very well supported by so many people who have really been touched by Helen’s story.”

Northumberland County Council said home care staff would be receiving training provided by NHS specialists.

A spokesman for the council said: “Arrangements for Mrs Easby’s care are progressing well and we are committed to enabling her to make a safe return home before Christmas.”

To sign the petition, visit https://www.change.org/p/northumberland-social-services-get-helen-home-for-christmas