Supporting our youngest patients
You’re all stars!
Thank you so
much to everyone
who supported our
Little Stars Appeal, for all the lovely
stars you sent for our children in
hospital over Christmas and for your
kind gifts.
Every year, dozens of children
have to spend Christmas in hospital.
Children like Annabelle (pictured),
who was rushed to Evelina London in
December 2013. She was diagnosed
with a very rare disease that affected
her brain and spine. Two years on, she
still has made a remarkable recovery
but still has regular check-ups.
Your gifts will help us treat more
children like Annabelle and give them
the vital care they desperately need.
Our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) ha s some life-saving specialist
equipment to kit out a new two-cot isolation bay – part of NICU’s plans
for much-needed expansion. The unit’s growth will mean NICU – which is
very often completely full – will be able to care for 22 critically ill babies, a
fantastic increase on its current number of 16.
A generous donation from The Lord Leonard and Lady Estelle Wolfson
Foundation will help buy monitors for checking vital signs, a ventilator,
respiratory and suction equipment specifically designed for tiny babies, a
set of syringe and infusion pumps to give life-saving medication, and new
incubators.
‘Without donations such as these we’d find it difficult to buy the specialist
equipment needed for providing the best care for very sick or premature
babies,’ explains Alex Phillips, Matron in NICU.
You can still make a donation to support our work treating
tiny babies and sick children. Call 020 7848 4701 or go to
www.supportevelina.org.uk/stars
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Your support has helped launch a DVD which empowers
How y
our
children who struggle with speaking to have the skills
suppor
t has
and confidence to communicate in other ways.
made a
Through the fun and interactive method of song, it
differ
ence
teaches children and their families to sign.
27 young patients of
Evelina London were involved in the
making of the DVD, along with many of their
parents and siblings.
Amélie (pictured), now seven, had seizures that
injured her brain when she was three weeks old.
She is now registered blind and needs 24-hour care.
‘It was a really positive experience and a massive
proud moment when I saw her on the screen,’
says mum Anne-Joëlle. ‘The DVD gives Amélie the
opportunity to practise her signing skills at home.’
Aida Hagos’ 11-year-old son Evenez has cerebral palsy and he enjoys going to
Sports Camp. It’s a week-long event for children with disabilities, funded by
donations to Evelina London.
‘There aren’t many activities that he can do in his wheelchair, but at Sports
Camp he was so happy,’ says Aida. ‘He tried sports that he’d never tried before,
that we didn’t think it was possible for him to do.’
Activities such as gymnastics, archery, basketball and
go-karting are available for a wide range of ability levels.
Evelina London community physiotherapist Becky
Flannery says: ‘Improving their strength, flexibility and
balance is obviously important to the children’s health,
and they have an amazing time. That’s one of
our biggest achievements because we want to
show them that sport can be fun.’
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