You Made It Happen (2023 Impact Report)

SARAH’S STORY

One of our greatest experiences at St Michael’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was having a place across the road to call ‘home’ throughout our daughter’s treatment. It was a lifesaver.

Emmy was born 14 weeks early after an emergency c-section. Seeing her for the first time was scary, but amazing all at the same time. She had loads of wires and tubes connected to her, but she was our amazing little girl.

She weighed under 1kg. Holding her for the first time was terrifying, but the feeling of her breathing and moving around in my arms quickly changed from fear into comfort.

We spent 87 days at the unit while Emmy grew stronger. When doctors told us she had a brain bleed, we were petrified.

Dan and I felt completely helpless seeing our baby so poorly in hospital. The staff always tried to involve us in Emmy’s care, but it wasn’t easy. I’d never imagined having to check my baby’s breathing tube or live in such constant worry.

Cots for Tots House was the only thing keeping our little family together.

Henry, our 20-month-old, could even stay with us. And if anything ever happened, we were only a minute away. I don’t know what we would have done if we’d had to go home, an hour’s drive away.

Emmy

Cots for Tots House became more than a room – it laid the foundation for some incredible and important friendships.

Talking to your friends and family is great, but they don’t understand the situation as well as fellow NICU families.

After a great visit with Emmy, I had someone to tell who would share my excitement. Or on the bad days, there was a friendly face. Happy, sad, worried, depressed, angry – they appreciated it all.

Henry became close with our newfound friends too. Henry would light up and offer a hug if another family came down for breakfast. When Dan and I needed to go to meetings, a family we’d grown close to would keep him occupied in the lounge. Henry also adored Cots for Tots House Manager Anne and loved to show her his big, cheesy smile.

Emmy is now settling into home life easily. She amazes us every day. We won’t fully know how being extremely premature will affect Emmy in the future, but she has still hit all her milestones. We’re not so worried anymore. Her future looks bright and full of love.”

HERE’S WHAT YOU MADE HAPPEN IN 2021 AND 2022...

19,996 nights sleep provided by our family accommodation

352 families given a place to stay in our accommodation

£246,773 raised through Jingle Jam, the world’s biggest gaming fundraiser

10,574 miles pedalled by our London to Paris cycle team

397 families helped by our Family Support Practitioners

Music therapy delivered to over 1,500 children throughout the year

Our accommodation for families was valued at around £500,000

55 stars twinkled across the children’s hospital as part of ‘Shine Bright for Bristol Children’s Hospital’

135 models of hearts created by The Grand Appeal 3D printing service

STACEY’S STORY

Working as the Ward

Sister for Lighthouse Ward means I look after both our patients, families/carers, and staff.

Lighthouse Ward treats children from across the South West and South Wales who have kidney conditions or issues with their urinary tract. We are one of the few sites in the UK which can offer kidney transplants and many of our patients visit us for this life changing operation.

I know I’m biased, but I have the best team! They’re the most reliable, supportive, and friendly people that I have ever worked with. Every day, they go over and above for their patients. I love getting to know the patients and being able to help make their time in hospital a better experience.

We couldn’t do what we do without The Grand Appeal. Over the years, support from the charity has enhanced patients’ and parents’ experiences.

From new microwaves for the parent room to facility refurbishments, Lighthouse Ward is more user-friendly thanks to them.

Music therapy is also a fantastic initiative for our patients who need haemodialysis. This is fantastic for them and allows them to communicate their feelings. It has been great for our patients who have been preparing to receive a kidney transplant to express and develop a song about their feelings.”

Stacey

STAN’S STORY

When I put my hand on Stan’s leg and felt a lump, I just knew.

We were in a taxi on holiday in Italy. Our first since the pandemic, and I just knew something was wrong. Stan and I flew home the next day.

A biopsy confirmed Stan had a rare type of tumour in his bone. Within weeks, we’d started chemotherapy at Bristol Children’s Hospital. It was devastating then, and still is now.

Music and play therapy have been a huge part of Stan’s time in hospital. Claire, the Grand Appeal music therapist, is fantastic and full of energy.

She’s really good at engaging with Stan. He still takes time to come out of his shell, but she always breaks through.

Stan sometimes struggles with feeling angry. I can talk to Claire about how to manage his emotions. I don’t always know if I’m doing the right thing, and Claire is so reassuring or gives us mechanisms to help Stan.

Cancer treatment can be isolating, and there are still some covid restrictions on Starlight Ward, so it’s important for Stan to speak to someone who isn’t a doctor or nurse and have a bit of fun.

Sian, the Grand Appeal play assistant, is great too. Stan loves that she is always bringing him toys and games and she constantly comes up with different play activities.

I’m always thinking, ‘I need to play; I need to do this...’ Constantly feeling guilty.

Having someone to guide and play with Stan is a real help.

She can act as an advocate for Stan, too. One time she stepped in and managed to talk Stan round. And it’s very hard for anyone to persuade Stan! I told my husband, ‘let Sian do it’. It was a bit weird for us to let go as parents, but brilliant because Sian knew how to handle the situation.

Claire and Sian have even teamed up in the past – they played with Stan as a band in the playroom. They all joined in and made some music together about emotions.

We’re still taking each day as it comes. Stan has major surgery coming up and we are waiting to see what happens next.

One thing I am certain of is that Bristol Children’s Hospital is made up of amazing, wonderful staff. I feel lucky Stan is here.