Wreck it Ralph: Family Pleads for Safe Home as Son’s Rare Disorder Puts Him in Danger

A mother from North Lanarkshire is desperately appealing for help as her six-year-old son’s rare condition leaves their home unsafe.

Leigh Murphy, 29, has nicknamed her son Steven “Wreck it Ralph” because of his habit of destroying walls, carpets, and furniture — even eating parts of them. Steven, who has severe autism, intellectual disability, and the rare eating disorder pica, craves inedible objects like sand, mud, plaster, and wallpaper. His condition has even led him to chew through his bedroom walls, exposing electrical wires.

For the last three years, Leigh and her husband Steven, 28, have been pleading with the local authority for a council home that can be adapted to meet their son’s needs. They want to install padded walls in his bedroom, a safe wet room, and secure ventilation so that he can live without constant danger.

Leigh explained the daily struggles:

“It’s horrendous — there’s no safe space for him. He eats carpet, wallpaper, even his own poo. You turn your back for a second and the walls are stripped. It’s terrifying.”

Currently, Steven’s bedroom is stripped bare except for a mattress, while the rest of the family home is minimal and locked down to prevent accidents. Leigh has given up her job as an A&E clinical support worker to care for him full-time.

Despite the challenges, she insists Steven is a loving boy:

“We call him Wreck it Ralph, but he’s such a wee sweetheart. We just need a home where he can be safe.”

The Murphys, who also have a nine-year-old daughter, Isla-Mae, are on the waiting list for a specialized council property. However, officials admit that suitable housing — such as an adaptable bungalow in their area — is in extremely short supply.

A North Lanarkshire Council spokesperson confirmed:

“We understand the urgency of the family’s situation and are working with partner landlords to find a suitable home. Unfortunately, properties of this type are very limited, but we are treating this as a priority.”

For Leigh, securing a safe home would mean peace of mind:

“For once in six years, I’d be able to breathe knowing he’s safe in his room. Right now, I’m running on air.”