Dear Editor,
Every year, thousands of families face a terrifying crisis. A sudden diagnosis. A life-threatening condition. A desperate need to be close to their child, but nowhere to stay.
The Sick Children’s Trust provides a calm, comforting space for families to be near their critically ill child during the most traumatic time of their lives. A warm bed, a place to cook, and somewhere to rest – all free of charge, just minutes from the hospital.
It costs The Sick Children’s Trust £40 a night to support one family in one of our ten ‘Homes from Home’, and we rely entirely on donations. The reality is that costs are rising, and demand for our homes is growing. That’s why I’m asking your readers to become a Friend of The Sick Children’s Trust by giving £10 a month. Their monthly gift will keep another family together, when they need it most.
The families we support travel an average of 86 minutes to be by their sick child’s bedside. One such family is that of Laura Makin, whose teenage daughter Keisha needed urgent treatment in Newcastle, over 200 miles from their North Wales home. Our Crawford House ‘Home from Home’ became their lifeline, keeping them close to Keisha during months of uncertainty and heartache. Laura said:
“Crawford House quickly became our sanctuary. Being offered a room there meant I could stay close to Keisha while she faced months of intensive treatment. Spending Christmas and Keisha’s 16th birthday in hospital was tough, but the ‘Home from Home’ gave us comfort and normality in the chaos. I could cook meals, talk to other parents, and just breathe. It even gave Keisha a break from the hospital when she came out of isolation – she loved being there, just being a teenager again.
“We stayed in Newcastle for nine months, and Crawford House was with us every step of the way. I’ll never forget the warmth and support we felt. It truly was a lifeline when we needed it most.”
Because people chose to give, Keisha didn’t have to face hospital alone. Now your readers can help another parent, another child, get the comfort and closeness they deserve.
Please visit sickchildrenstrust.org/donate to become a Friend today. Your regular support will help us plan for the future and will make sure our ‘Homes from Home’ are there for the next family in crisis – tomorrow, next month, and for years to come.
With heartfelt thanks,
Jane Featherstone
CEO, The Sick Children’s Trust
