How Acorns Children's Hospice makes a difference to the lives of families in the Black Country

Express & Star

Acorns Children's Hospice, which has a site in Walsall, has cared for more than 750 poorly children in the past year. This is how the charity has made a difference in the region.

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00:00I mean, she didn't have her first seizure until she was nine months of age, so it was

00:19a bit of a shock.

00:20I mean, I supported us for the first few years, where getting to grips with her conditions.

00:25I mean, she didn't have her first seizure until she was nine months of age, so we didn't...

00:31I mean, I'd never cared for a disabled child, so it was all...

00:34I've got an elder child who's 30 years of age, and going from having a healthy child

00:39to a disabled child was a lot of getting used to.

00:43So I'm your granddaughter.

00:44Yeah.

00:45So it was just...

00:46We found out when she was 20 weeks pregnant that she had parts of her brain missing, and

00:51I said, no, I said, she's my little girl, so...

00:56It's such a happy place.

00:57Most people, you know, might have the thought that hospice is a sad place, but actually

01:02as soon as you walk through the door, you can see it's a happy place, it's a bright

01:06place, and we have such fun with the children.

01:10The challenges, which, as you know, is a sadder part of the job, is when we have to care for

01:16children who are here receiving end-of-life care.

01:19And although it's a challenge, because it can be emotional, it's one of the best parts

01:24of the job.

01:25It's such a privilege to be able to care for children at the end of their life.

01:30We work with a lot of poorly children and their families, and every penny makes a difference

01:35in their lives, and every little thing we're able to do.

01:37So whether that be a short break in the hospice, whether that be a short break at home, doing

01:41what I do and what my team does, and by building up those relationships, getting to know the

01:46families, it can absolutely make a huge difference for them in everyday life and when they really

01:51call in and they really, really need it.

01:53More recently, I've been doing admin work.

01:59I also am involved with the siblings, because they have their problems.

02:04So we have groups every month.

02:08It's a different venue from the hospice, and the group there will deal with all the siblings

02:14and their issues.

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