Meet Betty…
Jayne explains.
“You miss out on so much. And then the children never got a sibling because she was just not there at any point. It was hard balancing the needs of our other children with trying to bond with a baby who was living in an incubator.”
Betty’s milestones were delayed and different from her siblings. She was initially tube-fed, and now she is PEG-fed. But when she finally achieved key developmental milestones, like her first smile or sitting up unaided, the moments were even more special.
“When she eventually gave us that first smile, it was completely magical. She’s just recently learned to sit up unaided, and the other children were ecstatic that she could sit up by herself. So, each milestone is much longer coming, but it’s so much more magical.”
The support from Zoe’s Place has been invaluable for the family.
“No matter how tired you are or how much it all seems, you know that at some point, close in the future [Zoe’s Place] are going to be able to just take over. We don’t have to think about how many mls are left on a feed.”
Jayne shares,
“you can just hand her over and then I use that time, to go and do stuff with the other children that I can’t do with her. So, like, for instance, Noah, who’s three, in the summer, I took him to a farmer Teds. I had a lovely time but it actually struck me if I had had Betty with me, we couldn’t have done half of the stuff that was there.”
Zoe’s Place isn’t just about respite care; it’s a source of advice and community for the family.
“Every time I’ve said I’m struggling with this, somebody [at Zoe’s Place] has had the answer. It’s more than just taking her for a couple of days; it’s for the whole family. We all get a benefit in different ways from it and she has lots of fun.”
“On the fun days, you come here for the siblings and for her to have a good time. I’m coming away with loads of information and shortcuts for things.”
As Christmas approaches, Jayne’s wish is simple:
“If we could have a Christmas Wish, wave a magic wand, it would be, everyone was at home, no one was unwell, there was no prospect of a pending hospital visit. Not just for us either. Like, for everyone that comes to Zoe’s Place. I’d like everyone to have their children at home. Because it’s hard when they’re not. It’s very difficult.”
Can you help us reach our target this Christmas and support families like Betty’s? From our Hospice to your Home, thank you for making every childhood count.
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