 Her legacy |
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Martha-Care-Trust (Caring for parents caring for very sick children)
In Martha's memory I have set up a trust to support parents when their children are first admitted to hospital with a critical illness.
Parents who have been through this will know exactly how it feels to suddenly find yourself miles from home & family, terrified your child isn't going to make it, dropping all work, commitments, schooling for siblings. Even basic necessities are sometimes overlooked in your haste to be with your child.
I want to offer practical and emotional support to parents in this situation and hope to offer this service at Frenchay hospital in Bristol, UK. When Martha was admitted for emergency surgery on her tumour, we didn't know what to expect, it was hard to listen to the medical staff because I was so distressed. The facilities were rough, at best, and we felt we couldn't ask the busy staff where the nearest cashpoint, petrol station, supermarket was. Mind you, we wouldn't have left Martha in that condition anyway but no-one thought to offer us a drink or bite to eat. No-one asked if they could contact anyone for us. There was no phone available to us to make calls, or internet access to stay in touch with family and friends.
What I needed more than anything was someone to say life might have changed but it's not over yet. I aim to do that as a fellow parent who has trodden this path over many years.
My daughter defied all the odds by surviving for as long as she did. Many other children will too and parents need to be given that hope whilst being surrounded by respect and comfort so they can care for their children.
Martha-Care's first aims are to provide a counsellor or support worker at the Barbara Russell unit to support parents and provide information; to improve the standard of accommodation and services available to parents, siblings & family; to ensure parents needs are considered by the unit;
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