Abby’s Heroes supports children, teenagers, young adults and their families, including bereaved families, who come under the care of the the Piam Brown Ward and the Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) wards at UHS – Southampton General Hospital.
Taking care of families from across the South Coast of England, we offer Welfare Packs, Care and Comfort bags, Financial Grants, operate a family room with emergency provisions, Counselling sessions and Play Therapy for the patient and their family. We have an active days out programme for the whole family and special days for the Grandparents and siblings.
Supporting children and families diagnosed with cancer, who attend UHS (General Hospital) Southampton.
The aim of the charity is to help and support children and their families who come under the care of the Piam Brown and the Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) wards in Southampton General Hospital. The catchment for these wards covers the south of England as it is a centre of excellence for children’s oncology. We aim to offer financial and practical help and importantly, the opportunity to make lasting memories for the children, young adults and their families.
As a family that has passed through this ward, we are acutely aware of what a traumatic and frightening journey it can be for both the child and their families. The child’s life is completely taken over by the diagnosis of childhood cancer and their family’s worlds are thrown into utter chaos and panic as they watch their child go through the rigours of treatment.
The reality of the future these families face includes months or years of treatment, families are often separated for long periods, as parents need to stay with the child, but also may have siblings that need looking after as well. Jobs are put on hold and inevitably financial implications start to hit home, this puts a massive strain on families as normal life ceases to exist.
Abby’s heroes have been set up entirely with this in mind. Practical help will be given – financial grants to help people through a difficult time. Bereaved families may be given grants to help give parents time to grieve. Days out and fun memory-making grants will also be given, which will allow the families a chance to do something together.
Care & Comfort Bags
For our families on the Piam Brown Ward, we hand out our care and comfort bags. We know that 53% of our families are admitted to the ward through the Emergency Department at UHS so often arrive with a poorly child, a mobile phone and little else. Each newly diagnosed family are given a bag with essentials with toiletries, phone charger, coffee cups and water bottles, a comforting blanket and a few toys to help them get through the first few days in hospital.
Early Day’s Gifts
Each family on the Piam Brown Ward and patients on the Teenage and Young Adult Ward (TYA) are given an immediate grant of £200 to help towards those unexpected costs when they have their diagnosis and are admitted to UHS.
Weekly Food Deliveries
Four times a week, our Family Support Workers arranges food deliveries to the Piam Brown Ward. Tuesday is ‘Chippy Tea’ night, Wednesday is a picnic lunch, Thursday is a ready meal and Friday night is ‘Dominoes’ Pizza night. Pizza night is a firm favourite with children and parents alike and we don’t forget to get an extra pizza for those hardworking nursing staff!
Parents are not provided for whilst in hospital and are often unable to leave their desperately ill child alone whilst they go and buy food in the expensive food outlets downstairs in the hospital.
Welfare Packs
Each family of a newly diagnosed child on Piam Brown and the Teenage and Young Adult Unit (TYA) will receive a Welfare Pack which has a voucher for the Hospital Car Park and Gift Cards for the Hospital Outlets at M&S, Costa and WHSmith to help with the initial costs (approx. £120) These are issued by the Young Lives vs Cancer team on Piam Brown Ward. Please speak to your Young Lives verses Cancer Social Worker if you have not received this.
Financial Hardship Grants
We offer financial grants to help with the additional costs of caring for a child/young person. These grants are applied for by the team on Piam Brown Ward and the Teenage and Young Adult Unit (TYA) at University Hospital Southampton and we pay families to directly into their bank account. These can be for a variety of reasons such as help towards the rent/mortgage payment, travel costs to hospital, living costs in hospital, equipment, etc. Please speak to your YLvsC Social worker. if you are struggling with the extra costs and they may be able to apply for a grant from Abby’s Heroes.
End of Treatment Awards
We want children, together with their families, to acknowledge their courage, strength and determination by “Ringing the Bell” and celebrate with our End of Treatment Award. We understand the gruelling treatment and invasive procedures they have gone through as well as all the missed special occasions they have been too unwell to join in. Each child who “Rings the Bell” on Piam Brown will receive £200 to spend on a treat for themselves. When your child “Rings the Bell” on the Ward, you will be given an envelope and asked to get in touch with us. We provide End of Treatment Awards for children on Piam Brown Ward.
Counselling Service
We know that the impact of cancer is far wider than the immediate or ongoing treatment, together with the long term effect on a child or the Young Person diagnosed with cancer. We understand the huge range of emotions you may experiencing such as anxiety, fear, exhaustion, feelings of sadness, anger at your family’s situation, loneliness or feelings of helplessness. Many family members continue to juggle the demands of work and childcare which can add to feelings of stress, fatigue and generally being overloaded.
We believe that many parents may find it easier to talk to someone outside of their friends and family and may benefit from speaking to a professional Counsellor. The Counsellor will listen to you and will help you to discuss your feelings and worries. They will help you identify some emotional and physical coping mechanisms. Counselling is completely unique because you can talk freely and with complete honesty as a Counsellor will never judge you or criticise you. They are an impartial individual who sits completely out with your circle of family and friends.
Whether you’re in the midst of treatment or are years beyond – it’s vital to get the support you need to cope. We want to ensure that no parent feels alone and unable to seek professional help to support them through the challenges of childhood cancer. Please contact us at info@abbys-heroes.org if you wish to use this service.
Magazine Subscriptions
We provide a huge range of magazine titles for the Piam Brown Ward and TYA each month. These can be accessed via the QR codes which are displayed in each room, the Day Unit and the Parents Room on the Ward or Lounge on TYA. There are over 70 titles and these can be downloaded and accessed via phones or tablets.
Snack Boxes
We provide a snack box on Piam Brown Ward so you can grab something to eat if your child is admitted as an emergency, too poorly to leave the ward etc. Please do let us know if there is anything you would like to have in the Snack Box.
Movie Boxes
For when families have to spend time away from the ward in other hospitals for treatment, such as Great Ormond Street, we provide a movie box full of treats to remind families that they are still very much part of the Abby’s Heroes family, and we are thinking of them every step of the way. Each box is packed with thoughtful treats including popcorn, sweet treats, cosy socks, personalised cups, vouchers, a Jellycat friend…and more. We hope they provide families with a cosy night of treats, wherever their treatment may take them.
Play Therapy
Play Therapy is a type of therapy that helps children to explore their feelings, express themselves and make sense of their life experiences. Play is children’s natural medium to learn, communicate and to explore their worlds.
We understand that a child’s cancer diagnosis has a huge impact on children and siblings and so Abby’s Heroes will fund Play Therapy for your family, please contact us at info@abbys-heroes.org if you wish to use this service.
Activities
In addition, we have provided individual toys and activities for the children (and parents!) to help relieve the boredom and pass the long hours in the hospital – Meccano, Trump cards, Painting by numbers, and Uno to name but a few things!! These things don’t change the dreadful time children, parents and staff are facing at this difficult time but hopefully, it makes it a little more bearable for a short while during these extraordinary times.