Most people know how much Seraphina has to go through on a daily basis, what I dont often talk about is how much the other members of my family go through too.
My other children..Joseph Thomas patrick,
Aimee Hannah Joy
Lydia Catherine Grace
Eve Angel Hope
and not forgetting Samuel Peter Jacob
These sweethearts go through SO much too, they are my heroes.They cope with the heartache that an absent parent brings when they are once again unavoidably detained at hospital to care after their sick sibling. They cope with the crushing disappointment when a parent cant come to their class assembly,parents evening or school fair because they are away or their sibling is too unwell to be left.
There are lots of charities out there which cater for grants for special needs children..all geared towards the needs of the special needs child but POSTPALS is different....wonderfully so.
Post pals was set up by a lovely girl called Vikki who herself is very ill with M.E and at the time Post pals was set up was totally bedridden, the gorgeous Vix is also poorly with M.E as is Kate.D..how wonderful that these people, all with their own illness to contend with, should stretch out a hand of friendship to extremely sick and life-limited children AND their families all over the U.K.
The concept is simple, the results are life changing.
My little girl has had postcards from all over the world with her favourite things on them...shes had lots and lots of her beloved bath ducks sent to her (we may even have to build a second extension to house them all :-p) shes had thoughtful presents like a pair of long fluffy socks sent to her from Finland. Even lots of cut out yellow chickens sent to her at easter....painstakingly cut out by a primary school class each with the childs name on.
and her siblings....they are also included too. Ria ( a postpals volunteer) made them all pillowcases with their names on and their favourite TV characters...you should have seen thier faces when they got those! they have had cards, letters and small gifts, each one which bought a smile to their faces and a realisation that people cared about them too and how they were feeling. This has been such a blessing when I have been away from home.
Of course I must not forget the Dotty project. a lovely spotty dalmatin puppy who had siblings sent out to every sick child and their family..we named ours Bottomly Potts. Dotty has amazing adventures and always keeps us ''posted'' (sorry couldnt resist) on what shes getting up to.
Post pals are wonderful...
Its amazing how a simple postcard with a ''Hello, just sending you a smile'' can have such an impact on a tough day.
From the Christian members of Postpals we have recieved prayer support which is just as important...prayer is powerful and changes things.
Even Mums arent forgotten as I found out recently on a long hospital stay. I got sent a ''Hospital survival kit'' Its hard being in a hospital over 100 miles away from home.Visiting is limited because of distance and often (as in this recent admission) unplanned so you end up having nothing you need with you.
This arrived and ...Ill be honest, I cried. it was totally inspired...whoever thought of these boxes deserves a medal. Inside there was everything you needed to literally 'survive' a hospital stay.From sachets of hot chocolate and cofffee (Mmmm...coffee!) to a travel toothbrush and toothpaste, showergel and deodorant (which as every mum knows who has slept in her clothes wiothout hope of a change of clothes for another 24 hours YOU NEED!)
I even got sent by a wonderful person...a book by Jane Austen (My favourite author) How spoilt did I feel!!!
As wonderful as all these things are....its the meaning behind them thats the most important thing....you arent forgotten. There are people out there who read updates on what is going on, who CARE whats happening to you and your family.
Most recently Seraphina has been suffering with sore painful ulceration and weeping at her jejunostomy site...Postpals came to the rescue again.They made and sent something called ''button buddies'' which are a simple design of circular cotton with absorbant backing which just fasten round the base of her jej button and protect the site from moisture whilst allowing cream to be kept on and soak in. They hae been FANTASTIC...her site is so much improved since wearing them....Seraph has even got into chosing her own button buddy for each day which has also helped with the psychological issues she was developing around having her button cleaned.
What I want to say is a HUGE 'THANK YOU!!!!' to Postpals for making my children (and me)smile.
and to anyone who is thinking of supporting postpals either by writing a letter to a sick child or giving a donation finantially.....DO IT!!! :)
Thanks for reading
www.postpals.co.uk ...go on..make a sick child smile!
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