What the children at Great Ormond Street Hospital want for Christmas
'What I want best is the chance of being home in time for Christmas'
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Your support makes all the difference.As many as 200 children and their families are expected to spend tomorrow on the wards of Great Ormond Street Hospital this year.
Here, some of those children share what they really want for Christmas:
To see my cousins and draw pictures
Kwame Ackom, 10, from north London
Kwame has been a patient at GOSH since he was four. He suffers from Achondroplasia. This affects how some of his bones develop, particularly those in his limbs, including his upper arms and thighs. Kwame returns to GOSH for surgery to lengthen his limbs every two years. He has been at GOSH for six months, recovering from his latest surgery, and is looking forward to going home. For Christmas he wants to see his cousins, and draw more pictures.
I want to be well and healthy
Rebecca Keady-Wallis, 12, from Luton
Rebecca has cystic fibrosis, a condition which means she produces a sticky secretion that affects her lungs and digestive system. She has been a patient at GOSH since she was four months old and for Christmas all she wants is to “be well and healthy”. Currently on Badger ward, she has spent lots of time with her play specialist Lizzie Penn. Together they have made pretty Christmas paper chains, which is keeping Rebecca distracted while she receives treatment.
To see my brother after our surgery
Jamie Armstrong, 13, from Reading
Jamie is recovering from a bone marrow transplant to cure his acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The marrow was donated by his brother Aidan, seven, who was found to be a perfect match. Jamie and Aidan haven’t been able to spend time together, though, as all bone marrow transplant patients need to be kept safe from infection in an isolation room. Jamie has been in isolation for 40 days and is missing his brother.
This Christmas, he wants to be with all of his family. Jamie’s mother Farrah said: “We have been in GOSH for seven months with Jamie and at one point we thought we were going to lose him. Throughout it all Jamie has handled everything without a moan or a groan. We’ve still got a long journey ahead but everything is looking very positive. Aidan is very proud of what he has done for his brother and shows everyone his scar. Jamie has missed Aidan terribly and we are looking forward to all four of us being together for Christmas in Jamie’s room on the ward.”
I want a pet dog as a present
Rowan Pethard, seven, from Hemel Hempstead
This Christmas, the thing Rowan wants most is a dog, who can play with his grandmother’s dog Woody. Rowan is at home in Hemel Hempstead after being treated for leukaemia at GOSH. He had a virus last month but is now doing well. Rowan’s mum Abby said: “He is now over his virus and feeling great. He went to school last week for the first time in months and enjoyed seeing his friends.” They also went to see a pantomime. “He was joining in singing and dancing, which was lovely to see.”
I want to be home with my family
Bradley Stickland, 11, from Hertfordshire
Bradley drew this picture of a “sweet claw machine” as soon as he woke up from bowel surgery for dysmotility, a condition that has left the muscles in his digestive system impaired. He’s been in and out of GOSH since he was four and was admitted earlier this month for a colostomy. His dream present would be his sweet machine invention, but all he really wants is to be home with his family. He said: “What I want best is the chance of being home in time for Christmas.”
To go back on my trampoline
James McCartney, six, Ashtead near Epsom
James went home earlier this month after spending six months at GOSH being treated for a rare life-threatening disease of the immune system, which caused damage to his tissue and organs. His family are “adjusting” to life at home with James in isolation to prevent infection. He still has a Hickman line, so can’t play football or rough games, says his dad Tony, but James went out on his bike for the first time on Tuesday. “It was wonderful to see him out again, we are so proud of him,” he said. For Christmas, James wants to go on the trampoline with his cats, Milkshake and Chocolate.
Peter Steer, Chief Executive, Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: "The hospital is inundated with goodwill from the public at Christmas time and this already includes lots of presents.
"We’re very grateful for any support you can offer, but the greatest gift that our families want is for their children to be better and back home. So, if you are able to donate to the Give to GOSH appeal, helping us to deliver world class care to these children, we would be truly grateful.”
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