Supporting Terminally Ill Children

Poppy was two when she was diagnosed with leukaemia in February last year. Treatment started immediately and Poppy was in hospital for seven weeks. She barely moved and when she was finally discharged, she couldn’t walk.

She’d spent so long in bed not using her muscles that they’d wasted away and she’d forgotten how to walk. We did physio with her in hospital and at home. We saw her determination that day and knew she was going to fight this every step of the way.

I started looking around to see if I could access any emotional support for our family. I’d been away from my husband and my other daughter Mia for seven weeks. Our social worker put us in touch with Rainbow Trust Children's Charity and a Family Support Worker called Nicki started visiting soon after.

Having Nicki to help made life so much easier – it didn’t take long to feel comfortable with her – we all love having her here. The days that Nicki takes us to the hospital, Poppy feels less stressed and I am calmer. I know I can leave her with Nicki and I’m not just leaving her alone in her bed.

Poppy’s hospital appointments often start at 8am and she and I can be there till six in the evening. Nicki takes us up to the hospital and spends the whole day with us.

I can’t even let myself think about what it’d be like without Nicki’s support. She’s made our lives so much easier, the girls adore her and I feel so much calmer knowing she is there to help us. She has helped all of us and I’d recommend Rainbow Trust to anyone who needed them.