CLAIRE HOUSE HAS GIVEN US
PRECIOUS FAMILY TIME
For many mums, taking your child to a tot’s group is a rite of
passage. It’s a time to unwind and have quality time with your
child, sing nursery rhymes and read stories.
But for Wendy Moore from Wallasey, that simple but important
experience, seemed completely out of reach – until she found
Claire House Children’s Hospice.
Wendy’s daughter Erin, now four, was diagnosed with severe
cerebral palsy and epilepsy when she was five weeks old, as a result
of a birth trauma, leaving her unable to sit, roll, crawl, stand, talk,
walk or hold anything and later needing a tracheostomy to give her
a safe airway.
Erin, who needs round-the-clock care, is also prone to seizures,
painful muscle spasms, and is tube-fed.
“When Erin was diagnosed, I felt like I was being ripped to pieces,”
remembers Wendy.
“It took a long time to come to terms with the news but I knew that
I had to be strong for her and that she needed play and interaction.
“I longed to take her to a mum and tot’s group but it seemed
impossible. It would be too painful to watch all the other children
doing the things Erin couldn’t and I was worried about people
staring at her or saying unkind things. Thankfully, Claire House
came to the rescue.”
Two support workers, referred by the hospital where Erin was born,
got in touch with the Moores and told them about the support
Claire House could offer. It included physio sessions for Erin, an
offer to look after her once a year so Nick and Wendy could have a
break, and a fortnightly parent and tots group. All of these services
are funded by generous supporters.
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So in April 2014 when Erin was eight months old, Wendy took her
along to the mum and tot’s group in Bebington, Wirral.
“For the first time we were able to do the things other children her
age do such as listening to story time, singing, and playing with
coloured sand and spaghetti,” says Wendy.
“Seeing Erin so happy meant the world to me. The play therapists
were brilliant. Erin made paintings we could bring home, just
like at a mainstream playgroup, and because all of the children
had different illnesses, I didn’t have to worry about other parents
judging her.”
Wendy and her husband Nick have been taking Erin to the group
for almost four years now. She has blossomed into a happy little
girl who loves relaxing in the hydrotherapy pool, a swimming pool
surrounded by twinkly lights and soothing music, and she has even
made a little friend called Jamie.
“We’ve both made friends because of Claire House. It’s been a real
lifeline,” says Wendy.
“It’s reassuring that I can chat to other parents who understand
the things that affect us such as tube-feeding or how to deal with
seizures. The staff at Claire House are angels. They’ve allowed Erin
to play and interact with other children and for us to have quality
time with her.”
Thanks to your donations, Claire House can give vital support
to families like the Moores, offering parents and children with
complex medical conditions the chance to bond and play together,
make new friends, enjoy family life and create unforgettable
memories.