Charity cheer for poorly children

VERY poorly children rushed to Derby and Burton hospitals in an emergency will be helped to smile a little thanks to comfort packs donated by Melbourne charity me&dee.

The charity is donating the packs as a gesture of support for families who arrive at the hospital with poorly youngsters in an emergency and may have nothing with them – like a cuddly toy or distracting game It is also providing packs for parents to provide some comfort in what can be heartrending situations, when even something as simple as a cup of tea can offer a grain of support

Fran Watson, a senior play specialist at Royal Derby Hospital, said: “These packs will be really helpful because a lot of our parents and children come without anything as it’s an emergency and sometimes they get transferred out to another hospital

“You come at once because your child is ill, and parents can often forget about themselves too You get caught up in the emotional rollercoaster of what your child is coming in for ”

Children’s comfort packs provided by me&dee will include an age-appropriate activity, book, toothbrush, toothpaste and fl l Th ill l i l d b b H small lion cuddly keepsake, or baby Hope elephant The cuddly elephants – an animal chosen because an elephant famously never forgets – contain a voice recorder in the ear so that siblings or other family members can record their voice to comfort children in hospital when they cannot be there alongside them

Parents’ packs will hold toiletries, tissues, instant tea, coffee, milk and a soup mix, so that mums, dads or other carers can at least use a new hospital’s hot water supply to make themselves a drink

They will also have a notebook and pen to make notes when talking to staff and write down things needed for a relative to bring in Fran, who has known me&dee founder Maria Hanson MBE for 15 years, said:

“Maria is such a lovely person I’ve known her ever since she started up me&dee Over the years she has supported me, to in turn pport families in such a massive way In me ways, she’s the first port of call for me he supports me in anything that I ask her r

“The soft toy and book in the children’s mfort packs are just the sorts of things at children will have left behind when ey’re rushed in A comfort pack might be mple, but for a parent and a child who ts one, it will just make them smile a lite bit and it will make them feel that they e not on their own, and somebody’s ought about them

“For patients who have experienced e&dee, there aren’t enough words to exain the gratitude they have Whatever e difficulties and the challenges you may ve, Maria’s always able to make things tter She’s just a very special lady ” Maria, whose charity helps provide comrt and memory making activities for fames who – due to serious illness – are cing a potentially short and certainly un-

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