Fill every day with colour and care appeal
From 16th June, we’re proudly celebrating Children’s Hospice Week - a time to shine a light on the incredible children we care for at the only Children’s Hospice in Northern Ireland.
That’s right - there’s just one Children’s Hospice in the whole place, and your support helps keep its doors open to families like Ellie’s.
This year, we’re also incredibly grateful to have the support of renowned artist and illustrator Oliver Jeffers, whose beautiful crayon-themed artwork brings even more colour to this appeal.
Take a moment to read Ellie's story, and find out how your support ca help us continue to be there for families like Ellie's.
Six-year-old Ellie Sloan’s life changed forever after brain tumour surgery. But at Children’s Hospice, her family found light, laughter, and love again.
Michelle nods, “She loves school too – she’s at Fleming Fulton and the staff all adore her."
"She’s got everyone wrapped round her finger! And she’s mad about boys – loves any bit of male attention.”
Michelle explains, “Ellie doesn’t speak, and she needs a wheelchair to get around. Just before she turned three, she had surgery for a non-cancerous brain tumour. It was supposed to be straightforward, but she ended up in intensive care for six weeks... and she just never really recovered. We were in the children’s hospital for seven months
before they suggested we try a stay at the Children’s Hospice.”
Donate now and help us continue to be there for more families like Ellie's.
Philip picks up the story: “When the nurse, Rosie, first said, ‘Would you think about Hospice?’ we freaked out... you think that’s where children go to die.”
“But we were wrong,” says Michelle. “So wrong. It’s a happy place. When we first came in October 2022, they’d set Ellie’s room up with her name on the door and all her favourite toys. We stayed in the parents’ flat, and while the nurses did artwork with Ellie, we finally got some proper rest.”“No machines beeping, no alarms going off,” says Philip. “Just peace and quiet. The nurses even got us a Chinese, which was such a treat! We were trying to stay awake, but we were out cold by half nine – and we didn’t wake up until seven the next morning. I don’t think we realised how exhausted we were until we had that silence.”
“We’re from Newcastle, down near the Mournes,” adds Philip, “so being able to walk in the Hospice garden, see some trees and breathe – it just did wonders.”
Michelle smiles, “The second time we came, Ellie got to go in the hydro pool. After watching her lying in ICU, fighting for her life, I never thought we’d see her in a swimming pool. It was incredible.
She just relaxed completely. The physios were amazing with her. I’ll be honest – I cried. It was such a moment.”
“Everything about the Hospice is full of colour and care,” she continues.
“Ellie brings home gorgeous artwork, wee cards she’s made for us for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. She gets her nails painted, has foot spas, takes part in the activities – she’s spoiled rotten and loves every minute of it.”
“We come up around four times a year for supported stays,” says Philip. “It’s the only break we get – the only time we properly switch off. And we trust the team completely.
Megan, one of the nurses who looked after Ellie in ICU, actually works here now. That means so much – she knew Ellie at her worst, and now she gets to see her thriving here.”“And it’s not just the nurses,” he adds. “It’s everyone – the admin staff, the cleaners, the chefs. It’s like they’re all part of your family. We’ve become friends with other parents too – we all stay in touch and look out for each other.”
“We don’t have support from family,” says Michelle, “so we really do rely on the Hospice. It’s a huge thing to put your child in someone else’s care, but they know Ellie so well – medically and personally. And they’re always just a phone call away.”
Philip nods, “We wouldn’t have coped without the Hospice. For Ellie, it’s like a wee holiday. And for us, it’s a lifeline.”
Ellie’s Story: Filling Every Day with Colour and Care
You can watch Ellie's Story as told by her parents here.
Make a donation today and help us continue to be there for more families like Ellie's.
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