Children’s Hospice Week is the only week in the year dedicated to raising awareness and funds for children’s palliative care services across the UK, and for charities like Little Havens the hard work continues all year round.
Tucked away in beautiful meadowland in Thundersley, Little Havens is the only children’s hospice in Essex, supporting youngsters from birth to 19 living with complex or incurable conditions.
Its care extends outside the hospice building too, providing respite and support for families at the end of a child’s life in their own homes across the county.
Lauran Bolton is a children’s nurse at Little Havens and said: “Nursing at Little Havens is very different to anywhere else.
“There’s a lot of focus on holistic care, looking after the whole family and every aspect of their life.
“The respite is more centred on fun and how we can add to those experiences, making every day count.”
Natasha Oakley from Grays is mum to two-year-old Elijah, who has a rare virus infection which causes other complex conditions.
Praising the hospice, mum Natasha said: “Everything at Little Havens is just tailor made for kids like Elijah – the sensory room, hoists, bath, gardens. It’s nice to go somewhere where you don’t have to worry about fitting in.”
To find out more see www.havenshospices.org/
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