A personal Message from Maggie, Martha's Mum

In Martha's memory I have set up  Martha Care to support parents when their children are first admitted to hospital with a critical illness or after an accident.  

Parents who have been through this will know exactly how it feels to suddenly find yourself miles from home & family, terrified your child isn't going to make it, dropping all work, commitments, schooling for siblings.  Even basic necessities are sometimes overlooked in your haste to be with your child.

I want to offer practical and emotional support to parents, in the first instance, on the Barbara Russell Unit at Frenchay hospital in Bristol.  Families from all over the South West find themselves on this ward for specialist treatment for serious head injuries, neurological conditions like Cerebal Palsy, life-threatening illnesses like cancer or Meningitis.

When Martha was admitted for emergency surgery on her tumour, we didn't know what to expect, it was hard to listen to the medical staff because I was so distressed.  The facilities were rough, at best, and we felt we couldn't ask the busy staff where the nearest cashpoint, petrol station, supermarket was.  Mind you, we wouldn't have left Martha in that condition anyway but no-one thought to offer us a drink or bite to eat.  No-one asked if they could contact anyone for us.  There was no phone available to us to make calls, or internet access to stay in touch with family and friends. I wanted to change all that, I needed someone who had the time to listen carefully to what I needed to say and who could make sure I had everything I and my family needed to care for Martha: from Toothpaste to occupational therapy; from a shower cap to a social work assessment; from holidays to housing!

But, despite all that, what I needed more than anything was someone to say life might have changed but it's not over yet.  I needed someone who understood exactly what it meant to be in that situation and instinctively knew what I needed.  I aim to do that as a fellow parent who was in this situation for many years.

My daughter defied all the odds by surviving for as long as she did.  Many other children will too and parents and families need to be given that hope whilst being surrounded by respect and comfort so they can care for their children.

Martha-Care's first aims are to provide a counsellor or support worker at the Barbara Russell unit to support parents and provide information; to improve the standard of accommodation and services available to parents, siblings & family; to ensure parents needs are considered by the unit; to provide the very best advice and support to families on the ward; to link families to other forms of support, especially services in their home areas; to provide a voice for parents, carers and families.