April Edition 2018
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LauraLynn Children’s Hospice
LauraLynn Children’s Hospice
There are thousands of parents in Ireland caring for family members at home who need our support.
There are thousands of parents in Ireland caring for family members at home who need our support.
There's nothing more heart wrenching than hearing about those caring for children with disabilities & special needs, and even more so for those with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.
There's nothing more heart wrenching than hearing about those caring for children with disabilities & special needs, and even more so for those with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.
The Essential Things.
The Essential Things.
When your children are unwell with colds and fevers we do our best to make them feel better knowing all will be well soon enough.
When your children are unwell with colds and fevers we do our best to make them feel better knowing all will be well soon enough.
When they're in hospital with more severe needs you feel numb with fear because we're heavily reliant on others. We feel powerless, helpless, we offer comforting words, and we hold them close, hoping and believing all will be well soon.
When they're in hospital with more severe needs you feel numb with fear because we're heavily reliant on others. We feel powerless, helpless, we offer comforting words, and we hold them close, hoping and believing all will be well soon.
Sometimes Life is not fair.
Sometimes Life is not fair.
On my way to meet Chris, whose daughter Aideen attends LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, I felt a huge a wave of emotions because I don't know how I'd feel if my child had a life-limiting condition and that they will not get better. I can't imagine my own heavy heart and how I would deal with it especially over a long period of time.
On my way to meet Chris, whose daughter Aideen attends LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, I felt a huge a wave of emotions because I don't know how I'd feel if my child had a life-limiting condition and that they will not get better. I can't imagine my own heavy heart and how I would deal with it especially over a long period of time.
It was therefore a great relief to be greeted at the door by Chris whose smiling face hides the emotions he and his family have experienced over many years. His daughter Aideen is now 11 years old and has a a life-limiting condition which has her in a wheelchair, unable to walk or talk, and she requires 24hr Palliative care.
It was therefore a great relief to be greeted at the door by Chris whose smiling face hides the emotions he and his family have experienced over many years. His daughter Aideen is now 11 years old and has a a life-limiting condition which has her in a wheelchair, unable to walk or talk, and she requires 24hr Palliative care.
Aideen's illness will one day take her from her family.
Aideen's illness will one day take her from her family.
Support
Support
To accommodate Aideen in their Johnstown home it has been adapted to cater for her needs. With 3 other children they have as much of a normal life as other families but with the added responsibility of caring 24hrs a day for Aideen.
To accommodate Aideen in their Johnstown home it has been adapted to cater for her needs. With 3 other children they have as much of a normal life as other families but with the added responsibility of caring 24hrs a day for Aideen.
The family have received invaluable assistance over the years and it quickly became clear that the focus of this article should not be about Aideen herself, or her family living here in Johnstown, but about the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and the support it provides to families across Ireland.
The family have received invaluable assistance over the years and it quickly became clear that the focus of this article should not be about Aideen herself, or her family living here in Johnstown, but about the LauraLynn Children’s Hospice and the support it provides to families across Ireland.
You can read Chris's Personal Story on the LauraLynn.ie website and via the picture link below.
You can read Chris's Personal Story on the LauraLynn.ie website and via the picture link below.
"I want to give something back for all the help we receive so that others will have the same support."
"I want to give something back for all the help we receive so that others will have the same support."
Chris, Aideen's Dad
What is LauraLynn Children’s Hospice?
What is LauraLynn Children’s Hospice?
Surprisingly, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, is the only children’s hospice in Ireland, providing palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families from all across Ireland.
Surprisingly, LauraLynn Children’s Hospice, is the only children’s hospice in Ireland, providing palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families from all across Ireland.
LauraLynn takes an holistic approach to care, so that patients can be children and parents can be ‘Mums and Dads’ rather than full-time carers. Care is tailored to the changing needs of the family throughout their journey; from their child’s diagnosis, to end-of-life and in bereavement.
LauraLynn takes an holistic approach to care, so that patients can be children and parents can be ‘Mums and Dads’ rather than full-time carers. Care is tailored to the changing needs of the family throughout their journey; from their child’s diagnosis, to end-of-life and in bereavement.
As words on the LauraLynn website aptly state:
As words on the LauraLynn website aptly state:
'When life is short, two things become very important to families: the quality of life and making the most of every day'.
'When life is short, two things become very important to families: the quality of life and making the most of every day'.
A Brief History
A Brief History
LauraLynn Children’s Hospice evolved through the merging of the Children’s Sunshine Home, which dates back to 1925, with the more recently established LauraLynn Foundation, which had been set up in 2001 by Jane and Brendan McKenna after their daughters, Laura aged four and 15-year-old Lynn, passed away within two years of each other.
LauraLynn Children’s Hospice evolved through the merging of the Children’s Sunshine Home, which dates back to 1925, with the more recently established LauraLynn Foundation, which had been set up in 2001 by Jane and Brendan McKenna after their daughters, Laura aged four and 15-year-old Lynn, passed away within two years of each other.
In 2011 LauraLynn House, a purpose-built 8 bed children’s palliative care unit was opened by President Mary McAleese, providing award winning healthcare to more than 335 families to-date.
In 2011 LauraLynn House, a purpose-built 8 bed children’s palliative care unit was opened by President Mary McAleese, providing award winning healthcare to more than 335 families to-date.
BUT
BUT
The everyday operations of LauraLynn House need Your
The everyday operations of LauraLynn House need Your
DONATIONS.
DONATIONS.
Family, Life, Care, Funding
Family, Life, Care, Funding
You can read through the list of vital services that the hospice provides free of charge to the children and their families on their website. Although partially funded by government, LauraLynn Hospice is hugely dependent on fundraising. This year their target is to raise €4.2 million.
You can read through the list of vital services that the hospice provides free of charge to the children and their families on their website. Although partially funded by government, LauraLynn Hospice is hugely dependent on fundraising. This year their target is to raise €4.2 million.
Giving Something Back
Giving Something Back
To say 'THANK YOU' for the ongoing support Aideen receives Chris has arranged a fundraiser event @ Taylors Johnstown.
To say 'THANK YOU' for the ongoing support Aideen receives Chris has arranged a fundraiser event @ Taylors Johnstown.
9pm, Saturday May 19th
9pm, Saturday May 19th
More information closer to the date but it promises to be a great evening with bingo, games, music and Prizes.
More information closer to the date but it promises to be a great evening with bingo, games, music and Prizes.
After reading this article I'm predicting you'll to do exactly what I did:
After reading this article I'm predicting you'll to do exactly what I did:
# Find your loved ones, hold them close and appreciate that moment.
# Find your loved ones, hold them close and appreciate that moment.
# Say that your going to come to the fundraiser event and share it to others.
# Say that your going to come to the fundraiser event and share it to others.
Life is precious and until it's under threat we don't tend to make the most of each day.
Life is precious and until it's under threat we don't tend to make the most of each day.
Contacts
Contacts
01 289 3151
01 289 3151
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Read Next in April Edition 2018
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