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A Merseyside family has spoken about the support they receive from Claire House Children’s Hospice as part of this year’s Children’s Hospice Week, according to Birkenhead News.
The national awareness week, which runs from June 15 to 21, aims to highlight the hard work of children's hospices across the UK and the unparalleled care they provide to seriously and terminally ill children and their families.
Mark and Pearl Gould, originally from West Derby, shared their family's experience to help raise awareness of the charity's incredible work. Their nine-year-old daughter Sophie recieves supported by Claire House Hospice, based in Bebington on the Wirral. Sophie has infantile spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare genetic condition that causes severe muscle weakness and requires round-the-clock care.
Mark said in a statement: "Claire House is a home, a safe place for us all. Sophie gets to be independent, have fun, and feel included, and we know all her medical needs are taken care of. Thank you never feels big enough for what they’ve done for our family."
Pearl added that the support also gives the family valuable time with Sophie’s older sister, Amelia, in ways that would otherwise be difficult.
Claire House supports over 500 babies, children, and young adults across Merseyside with similar illnesses. It also has bases in West Derby, where the Goulds hail from.
Chief executive of the charity David Pastor said Children’s Hospice Week is an important opportunity to highlight the growing demand for services and the need for sustainable funding.
The charity is also continuing plans for a second hospice in Liverpool to help meet rising needs and support more families closer to home. The Liverpool Appeal, as noted on their website, says that "care, compassion and dignity should be close — not miles away."
In other words, they are asking for help to ensure Liverpool families like the Goulds don't have to travel miles to access extensive help for their children and themselves.
Throughout this week, Claire House has hosted a range of activities and shared stories from families and staff to raise awareness of its work. These include a Wild West Stay and Play session, a princess visit, a go-karting trip (wow), and a Paddington party.
