Had a right good cry

[Mrs Ava]

It isn't good when the old man is busy and leaves me with the remote control.  I flicked over the telly to a program on BBC2 called The Families of Helen House - so words to that effect.  A hospice caring for children, and their families, during those last few weeks.  I can't really say anything else.  I gave my two monsters a sneaky kiss goodnight.  :'(

[Mrs Ava]

[Curryandchips]

My wife is a nurse covering the night shift on a palliative care unit. I cannot believe I am lucky enough to be married to such a wonderful person.

[Merry Tiller]

Me neither 8)

[cambourne7]

i cant watch that program and yet i cant drag myself away from it.

my nephew has a condition called Joubert syndrome (http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/joubert1.shtml), yet hes ok ish. Hes brain has re-wired itself and he has 6 monthly scans to find out how. As there is only a few kids in the world with what he has but most cant talk or sit up or do much of anything ( from what i have read ) and yet hes in normal school.

[Rosyred]

EJ i've woken up this morning with sore eyes from watching that last night but it got me thinking enjoy every moment with have as we don't realize how lucky we are. I even said a pray this morning for God to look over us.

[Hyacinth]

For those who were touched by the programme, find your nearest Childrens' Hospice and pledge support, be it merely selling your surplus produce from the plots/the occasional coffee morning/bring and buy etc - doesn't have to be anything big - and send them a cheque. Every penny helps.

PS nearest in Birmingham is Acorns  :)

[manicscousers]

my daughter is an intensive care nurse and comes home regularly upset because she hs "lost my lovely little man" or "lost my lovely little lady", I don't know how she does it but it's a privelege to be her mum  :'( :'( :)

[cambourne7]

manicscousers i am sure she gets it from somewhere!!

send her our best!

[Blue Bird]

Can not watch any programs like that as I get so distressed - you always hear about all the evil in the world but very little is said about the people who make such a difference to other people and want no rewards.

My OH works for our local hospice - and we do what we can

I have such a high regard for those who work in hospitals hospices and other such places they do not get the recognition they deserve or the pay

[manicscousers]

i don't want to start an argument but I think they are the people who deserve the honours and medals  !!  :)

[flossie]

pledge support, be it merely selling your surplus produce from the plots/the occasional coffee morning/bring and buy etc - doesn't have to be anything big - and send them a cheque. Every penny helps.

I agree - government funding for these places is so very poor - they do such an amazing job

[RSJK]

E J  missed the programme last night was traveling back from Liverpool and forgot to ask OH to tape it, one of the most moving programmes that I have ever watched it makes you so sad to see these poor little children,  and makes me wonder if there is such a person as God and if so why does he let little children suffer like this.

[Hyacinth]

pledge support, be it merely selling your surplus produce from the plots/the occasional coffee morning/bring and buy etc - doesn't have to be anything big - and send them a cheque. Every penny helps.

I agree - government funding for these places is so very poor - they do such an amazing job

Years ago I did research into the Hospice movement, from its beginnings as refuges or 'hospices' for pilgrim travellers, through the start of the modern hospice moement in GB, its spread to the rest of the world and its approach to pain management & holistic care - so pretty comprehensive.

Funding - what came out was that hospices reject total funding from governments - by accepting this they would lose their autonomy and be obliged to take on board any govt. drive for cutbacks, cost-driven prescribing of meds, etc. etc.

So more important than ever to give - little and often, or little and seldom - but give.

My friends and I rotate the recipients of any monies we might happen to raise between Acorns(children), St. Mary's(adults), Leonard Cheshire and Sue Ryder.

This arvers I'm going to a bring'n'buy and Sue Ryder's turn it will be to get anything we make....it's unwanted Xmas pressies.....since the New Year/New Diet the box of M&S chocolate covered cherries filled with brandy's gonna go...

I might end up feeling virtuous but oh! I might regret this ;D

[tilts]

I understand that the Hospices' need to retain their autonomy but it drives me wild that there are some that receive no funding at all  ~  i know of one hospice that tried to obtain Lottery funding and got declined, as indeed did St Dunstan's. It's madness.

[Hyacinth]

I'm shocked Tilts.....did they give any reason/justification or do the Lottery fat-cats not have to justify what they allocate where or why some get turned down?

[tim]

But a Stadium will get it??

Wish I hadn't read this.

[Trixiebelle]

Alishka! I didn't know that about funding, thanks for the info X

I've been trying to work out (in my feeble brain) how to support cancer hospices after my Uncle went to and died in one 2 years ago :(

The statistics throw me ... how it costs £10,000 per week to run a hospice  :(

Shocking figures and they are probably very difficult to maintain without Govt. funding.

Maybe there ought to be a Govt. funding % policy that allows autonomy for the hospices ... a bit like shares in a Company: The Govt. has 30% shares (donates money 30% of the running cost) but the major shareholders have the ultimate say in the running of the business. With a NO BUY-OUT CLAUSE!

I'm probably talking out of my arsenal, but this is one of the things on my list of 'things to research' and write to prominent members of Parliament about (I do this on a regular basis! My best correspondence was sellotaping several dead headlice to my business card and sending it through the post to a high-up-bod in the Council in protest of the abolition of the Nit-Nurse in schools - They never replied. Probably too busy itching)

I take my hat off to anyone who works in ANY hospice. It takes a special kind of person to do that - especially those dealing with children. It would break my heart.

But then again, sometimes it takes a heart to be broken to be able to help others with broken hearts <---- Oh blimey! I've gone all deep and meaningful!

I mean it sincerely though XXXXX

[Mrs Ava]

Did you see this weeks episode?  They held a charity evening to raise funds and raised, thanks to wealthy celebs, over £100,000. 

They showed us Harry, a little 5 year old who died horribly in 2000.  I cried for his pain, and his families loss, then I cried, because if he hadn't died, he would be the same age as my stepdaughter.  Brings tears to my eyes now.  I have a morbid interest in death since dad died and I saw and held his body....I ache physically with grief when I watch this program. :'(

[Jill]

EJ, I saw the prog for the first time this week and was in tears through most of it.  My local hospice runs a lottery which I contribute to every week.  We've sung carols there for the residents too at Christmas.  My mother, who suffered and died from MND (Motor Neurone Disease) had wonderful treatment during the times when her local hospice gave her respite care to give my dad a break.  I will never stop supporting the hospice movement in any way I can.

[busy_lizzie]

They do  fantastic work and I am filled with admiration for them. It is shocking they don't get more government support.  I did a bereavement counselling  course quite a few years ago and part of it was doing some studies on hospices and the people that work in them.  I have to admit I found it quite upsetting, but these people are the most amazing and compassionate people I have ever seen, and they make such a difference to the terminally ill and their relatives.  busy_lizzie