"Seeing the lounge completely decorated with bunting, cards, presents, toys, disco lights and streamers to celebrate one of the children's 8th birthday, hearing the music and laughter, seeing the children dancing carefree with faces painted as their favourite movie characters and the disco lights capturing their parents and grandparents loving and relaxed smiles was truly humbling and very moving.
The party games, including musical statues, pass the parcel,
animal charades, the balloon race and pin the nose on the dog (my art skills didn't stretch to drawing a donkey) were hysterical, and became very competitive, like at any other child's birthday party. The impressive birthday cake tower of doughnuts and cupcakes was gingerly balanced while the candles were blown out and wished upon within seconds. Even Buddy the Bear, the CHSW mascot, made a surprise appearance to the
delight of all the children, too.
.jpg.png "Food being served at Little Bridge House")
And to top it all off, observing the Care Team and frankly most members of nearby staff getting involved as the party was so beautifully raucous and joyous so anyone passing through the lounge joined in with the dancing and games too. The Care Team had thought of everything to make the party special and
inclusive for the families including a mouth-watering lunch catered by our amazing kitchen staff.
It was such a lovely occasion for the children to be children and the parents to be parents having fun together and
creating precious moments that will be etched in their memories.
.jpg.png "Sensory Room at Little Bridge House")
On the drive home afterwards, I was thinking of the preconceptions that many people perhaps have about what happens inside a children's hospice. There are, of course, unimaginably difficult and heart-breaking times for families to face, when our amazing Care Team will step in to provide round the clock care and support in whatever way is needed for the whole family. Equally, there are joyful moments, like I saw during my care shift when our hospice is genuinely a home-from-home for families to
celebrate life and laughter together with the amazing help and love from our Care Team. I felt incredibly proud and lucky to be there.”
If you would like to attend one of our tour days to learn more about helping local families to enjoy precious moments together, please email corporate@chsw.org.uk. We would love to welcome you.