Who are we?
What Is Martha Care?
Having a child admitted to hospital with a serious, possibly life threatening illness or injury is a life changing event. Families going through that experience have their lives changed beyond all recognition, sometimes permanently, in a matter of moments.
When Martha was in hospital it was incredibly difficult to support her through her treatment, look after our son who still needed to go to school back home and keep body and mind going through the rigours of living on a ward with minimal facilities.
We recognise that parents need to have some of their needs met to be able to look after their child. Parents in hospital try to provide for their children’s needs in the same way they do at home. We hope to make this as easy and as possible by providing some home comforts and the support families need.
How Does Martha Care Hope to do This?
Martha Care’s main aim is to provide a child & families social work counsellor who will provide much needed emotional support and advice to families. In addition they will also contribute to the physical comforts for parents and families by ensuring that the rooms are well cared for and basic supplies are available.
We aim to provide some basic necessities too. Families have to go into hospital immediately with no chance to collect up items for what can sometimes be a very lengthy stay. Yet life still goes on; bills have to be paid, siblings educated, work commitments re-arranged. Access to a phone & internet would help parents stay in touch with extended family & their community.
Alongside this, parents also need advice and support from someone on the ward who can listen and advise them and has the time to do so. The family support counsellor will also contact home agencies like social services, mobility services, voluntary agencies so that when the child is discharged parents will have as much support as is available once they get home.
How Did MarthaCare Come About?
Martha was just 8 months old when she was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour. She was admitted to Frenchay for surgery and we remember only too well how lost and alone we felt; far from home, worried sick and in shock.
Martha had many different treatments, some in our local hospital in Yeovil, some at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children & some on the Barbara Russell Unit at Frenchay.
Martha grew up knowing doctors and nurses as some of her best friends. She astonished many with her tenacity and ability to “pull through” many illnesses caused by her tumour and treatment. She had a fabulous sense of humour and loved spending time with the play specialists, teachers and other families. She cheered and inspired many.
After 7 years of hoping, praying and miracles, Martha’s disease took it’s toll, she passed away peacefully in May 2006.
During Martha’s final weeks, and in honour of my wonderful inspiring daughter, I decided to do something to help other parents going through the same distress.
