January 02, 2020 - 1674 views
As Colwyn Bay and Conwy county welcomes a new year and a new year decade, many local charities are reaching out to their supporters to help them make a difference.
Ty Gobaith and Hope House have just launched their Make A Difference campaign and has asked people to think about the type of activities which they might undertake in the New Year which could have fundraising or sponsorship potential.
By doing something amazing for Hope House and Ty Gobaith you will be directly helping to provide vital care for terminally ill local children and support for their families.
You'll be helping children like little Mia Parry, whose weeks at Hope House were some of the happiest of her short and precious life.
“We just had fun and laughter, toys and balloons, and Mia even got to sing with the hospice choir. She absolutely loved it all," says her mum Martine.
Mia was just four years old when she died. She was Martine’s fourth child – a longed-for girl who was sister to three older brothers Liam, Caiden and Kyle.
A 12 week scan had flagged that Mia might face difficulties. But at the 16 week scan it was confirmed to Martine that her baby was suffering from hydrocephalus and spina bifida. She was asked if she wanted to continue with her pregnancy, and warned that her baby might not survive her birth.
“I said I wanted to give her a chance. If she passed away then she passed away but she deserved a chance. I could feel her kicking. She was fighting on.”
Martine was put in touch with Hope House’s Neonate Link Nurse, who supports families whose baby is diagnosed with a life-threatening condition during pregnancy or at birth.
“Karen came with me to my appointments. She was a great support and really helpful at explaining things to me and helping me say what I wanted. She helped me plan for the birth, and what would happen if Mia didn’t survive.”
Mia was delivered by caesarean section. Martine was prepared for the worst, but couldn’t believe her eyes when her baby girl was born a healthy pink colour and crying loudly.
“I was so confused. She looked just like a normal baby. I was glad I have given her a chance.”
Mia was taken to another hospital for an operation to close up the opening on her back and another operation on her head. Martine was thrilled to hear that both operations had gone well and that she was feeding and didn’t need oxygen.
Hope House’s sibling support worker Mary brought Mia’s brothers to the hospital, and helped Martine explain to them that their little sister was very poorly but doing well. Another member of the Hope House team helped bring the family home from hospital when Mia was ten days old.
For the next three years Mia spent quite a lot of time in and out of hospital. The Hope House team was there to help support the family, spending time in hospital when Martine was with the boys so that Mia had a familiar face on hand, and helping the boys come to terms with their sister’s illness.
The family also came to stay at Hope House for respite care, which gave Martine a chance to take a short break from her 24 hour a day caring role. She even felt confident enough to take the boys home and let Mia stay on her own.
“She absolutely loved Hope House and I knew she was safe there. It was such a massive relief and it gave me time to do things with the boys or to take a little time for myself,” says Martine.
“They felt like family. The nurses knew Mia was poorly, and how to care for her, but they still made things fun. It was all about giving her a good life and finding a way to do the things we wanted, such as riding a rocking horse. They would never say something was impossible.”
Liam, Caiden and Kyle also enjoyed time at Hope House and going on trips with the Sibling Support team, and other children whose brothers and sisters have life-threatening conditions.
“They’d go to the beach and come back having been soaked from head to toe, but you could see they’d had such fun. They’d talk to Mary and tell her stuff they wouldn’t tell me and she helped them to understand what was happening.”
In October 2018 Mia’s health took a turn for the worse and Martine began to discuss end-of-life care with the hospital.
“I’d said from day one that she wasn’t dying in a hospital or at home. I chose Hope House because we knew everyone there and they knew us really well and I knew they would look after us all. There was nowhere else I wanted to be,” says Martine.
“The plan was for Mia to be sedated for the ambulance ride to Hope House and we would take her off the ventilator that night while she was sleeping and she would go in her sleep.
“But Mia wasn’t ready. She woke up the next morning and we spent the next three weeks at Hope House. She did everything – we went for a walk in the Fairy Garden, went on the playground and she even joined the Hope House staff choir for their practice! She loved it!
“I didn’t want her to be in bed and for everyone to be sat around it all sad because Mia was never sad.
“I had the room next to hers, but the staff helped me put her in my bed and did everything we wanted. It was so relaxed. We had toys, balloons and everything and nobody batted an eyelid.
“She loved a laugh and a gossip. Even when she was quite heavily sedated the last few days everyone would come in and have Chinese on our bed with her and she was still trying to join in. No one made a fuss – they were just letting me enjoy my time with Mia.”
Whatever you love to do - baking, lunching, walking, running, climbing, cycling, golfing, skydiving and partying - your help can make a difference and Hope House and Ty Gobaith can help you plan it.
Alternatively, you can make a difference by making a regular donation. Your gift, however small, will give the charity the truly magical gift of being able to help more children today, tomorrow and in the future.
For more details about the work which is being done each and every day and to help you plan your 2020 event, please visit https://www.hopehouse.org.uk
