Children’s Hospice Week 17th-21st June

by | Jun 17, 2019 | Children, Dartford Charities, Dartford News, Families, Welfare

Children’s Hospice Week began this week – a national awareness week which takes place annually in support of the unique range of services organisations such as ellenor can offer to young people. This covers everything from a full hospice at home service providing oncology, palliative care and end of life care for children facing life-limiting illnesses, a full hospice at home service providing oncology and end of life care within the home, to counselling for young people who have been bereaved.

Please read below to hear the story of one family’s experience and the support that helped them to carry on. Here they spoke to the Turnball family to find out how the younger members in particular, were supported by ellenor following the death of their mother.

Shona Turnbull, wife of Andrew and mother of Maxwell and Lucas, was unexpectedly diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and passed away 18 months later in ellenor hospice, Gravesend.

Knowing ellenor could give her and her family the support they needed, Shona chose to spend her final moments with ellenor.  Maxwell was aged five when she died, Lucas eighteen months. Andrew was left not only coping with his own grief, but trying to handle the impact his wife’s death was having on the children. From the very start, the support was there. He recalls “The afternoon Shona passed away, the ellenor palliative care team had suggested that when other family members were saying a final goodbye to Shona at the hospice, the children should share this moment. At first I thought it was an utterly ridiculous idea, but on talking it through with the team, I realised it would help give the boys a sense of closure and help them understand that she wasn’t coming home. They were able to see their mum looking so peaceful, and know that she had died under the care of ellenor,  looked after with full dignity and compassion.

I realised it would help give the boys a sense of closure. For us as a family, it was the right thing to do.  ellenor staff enabled us all to understand that Shona was peaceful and that she had died – Andrew.

Over the next five years, ellenor continued to support the Turnbull family, offering Andrew counselling and advice as their lives unfolded without Shona. Play therapy was available for both of the boys as well as the provision of days out with other grieving children, and Maxwell was of the age to benefit from counselling sessions. Through ellenor’s services, Maxwell was able to meet other children who were going through similar emotions and who wanted to talk about their parents.

ellenor’s Children’s Team worked closely with Maxwell to help him open up about his grief, overcome his anger and learn to heal. Play therapist Jolanta helped him create a safe place for his grief, to develop coping strategies and to learn how to move on at his own pace.   

With ellenors support, Maxwell is in a really good place today. The hospice has been fantastic to him in so many ways and to us as a family.

Maxwell is now a happy, settled boy. Having seen the benefit of ellenor’s care for Maxwell, Andrew is now turning to ellenor for play therapy for Lucas who, at six years old, is now able to process the loss of his mother. 

“ellenor helped us feel less alone, understood. If your children are facing the loss of a loved one, be as proactive as you can and consider counselling services for you and the kids. I went through all the stages of grief and   ellenor helped me understand that my emotions were natural and it being unfair, was very much ok to say. This in turn helped me to support my children.  Advice from Andrew.

ellenor are here to support when you need it. Call us on 01474 320007 or check out https://ellenor.org/childrens-hospice-care

Messy Dash Makes a Big Impact- Local Families and Supporters Raise £21,000 for We Are Beams

In an explosion of colour, laughter, and community spirit, over 1,000 participants took part in the We Are Beams Messy Dash on Sunday 6th July, raising an outstanding £21,000 to support disabled children and their families. Held at Dartford...

Ben Portsmouth brings the ULTIMATE Elvis experience to Orchard West on Sunday, 31st August

Ben is not just a tribute artist; he is the real deal, being regarded as the closest living performer to the legendary Elvis Presley. With global success in over 20 countries, Ben Portsmouth brings energy, passion and authenticity in a way that no one else can...

HAMILTON’S CLEVE SEPTEMBER RETURNS IN TITLE ROLE OF ALADDIN AT ORCHARD WEST THIS CHRISTMAS

Having won Dartford audiences over in his performance in panto last year at Orchard West, the Olivier Award-nominated Cleve September is set to return this season in the title role of Aladdin. Cleve will take centre stage alongside the previously announced TV...

Two days of entertainment and activity coming to Dartford

Get ready for two days of incredible entertainment as the Big Day Out weekend returns to Dartford’s Central Park on 12-13 July, bringing with it live music, vintage steam vehicles, family-friendly activities, and more – all completely free! Saturday will kick-off with...

FIND DARTFORD’S JASMINE

OPEN AUDITIONS ANNOUNCED!Your Chance to Shine in This Year’s Magical Pantomime Aladdin! Orchard West and Imagine Theatre are on the lookout for a shining star as they launch open auditions toFIND DARTFORD’S JASMINE! Aspiring performers are invited to attend auditions...

New social supermarket opens in Dartford

Dartford Larder, a new social supermarket designed to provide an alternative to Foodbanks, has officially opened in Dartford. Situated in Copperfields Walk, Dartford Larder aims to: provide an affordable shopping experience, tackle food insecurity, and resolve food...

WALKING WITH THE DARTS | JUNE-JULY EDITION

Hello again, welcome to another edition of Walking With The Darts, a monthly update on all things related to Dartford FC, courtesy of Dartford Living Magazine. Before I begin, please accept my sincere apologies for the lack of content recently. It has been a hectic...

How to transform your home on a budget 

By Qashish Dhiraj Mehta  Giving your apartment a makeover can feel like a uphill task. With a limited budget and limited space, every piece of furniture, every decoration, and every storage solution has to work overtime. But here’s the good news: a tight pocket...

Your Plans, Our Support: How Wave Community Bank support the local community with affordable loans

Life in Dartford and the surrounding areas often brings new opportunities and unexpected needs. Whether you're dreaming of solar panels on your roof to cut energy bills, need a new car for the daily commute, or simply require a smaller loan to by a...

Why Your Savings Belong at Wave Community Bank (Especially if You’re in Dartford!)

When it comes to stashing away your hard-earned money, you've got options. Big banks, online-only institutions, and then there's your local credit union. While the giants often grab the headlines, there's a compelling case to be made for choosing a credit union...