fbpx

News

13
Aug 2018

Twelve-year-old Kaspar is a very playful child that enjoys art and music therapy. He loves to feel the rumble of his wheelchair beneath him and to be around his large extended family. Kaspar however, lives with a rare birth defect and life-threatening illness, which creates constant concern for his parents Christine and Mario. Diagnosed with Agenesis of the corpus callosum, a congenital disorder, only three months after he was born, Kaspar now suffers from cerebral palsy and uncontrolled epilepsy. He...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Piggy Bank Appeal News, Very Special Kids News

8
Aug 2018

Written by Angela Flood, Family Support Practitioner at Very Special Kids With Dying to Know Day happening today, it is timely to raise the question of how we as a society of many cultures, faiths and beliefs talk about the inevitable d word: death. Dying to Know Day aims to activate conversations and curiosity, build death literacy and help grow the capacity of individuals and community groups to take action toward end of life planning. As an organisation that supports a...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Hospice News, Very Special Kids News

Very Special Kids was recently awarded a $12,000 makeover grant in the latest round of IKEA’s Living Local Community Grants. Very Special Kids was very excited to launch the new and improved counselling room today, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Helping those in need is a priority for both Very Special Kids and IKEA and the Grant utilised IKEA’s products, expertise and co-workers. Families caring for a child with life-threatening conditions and bereaved families will now have the opportunity to express feelings,...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Fundraising News, Very Special Kids News

An interview with Olive and Hospice Volunteer Kirsty Powers, written by Mary Ryder, Family Support Practitioner Olive is a very special dog. She is a beautiful, glossy, black Labrador with soft, bright brown eyes that melt your heart. She belongs to Kirsty Powers, a Hospice volunteer, and her therapy career at Very Special Kids began two years ago when she padded through the hospice doors for the very first time. Olive is a trained and certificated therapy dog. Kirsty wanted...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Hospice News, Very Special Kids News

26
Jul 2018

Written by Peggy Hogan, Family Support Practitioner at Very Special Kids The Road to Respite transport vehicle is a new and very unique home-hospice driving service that has received nothing but praise from families who have used it since it was launched earlier this year. The van is supplied through a partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service and driven by a member of their staff. From home pick-up until arrival to the Very Special Kids Hospice in Malvern, the child...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Hospice News, Very Special Kids News

28
Jun 2018

Three-year-old Breana is a very cheeky, happy child, that lights up any room she is in. She loves music and dancing, and she loves receiving attention. Breana however, lives with a life-threatening condition, which makes every day a little uncertain for her family. Breana was diagnosed with DiGeorge Syndrome only a couple of days after she was born, which is a syndrome caused by the deletion of a small segment of chromosome 22. While the symptoms can be variable, they often include...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Very Special Kids News

27
Jun 2018

Written by Paula Mullin, Clinical Nurse at Very Special Kids I have been working at Very Special Kids for the past four years and I often get asked “how do you work in paediatric palliative care?” I do what I do because I have the chance to help support families at the most difficult time: caring for a child at the end of their life. If I can help relieve just a small part of that pain and anxiety then...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Hospice News, Very Special Kids News

27
Jun 2018

Written by Roni Collyer, Family Support Practitioner at Very Special Kids   Adolescence is a life stage characterised by intense change; it is the transition between childhood and adulthood. While there is not one ‘correct’ way to parent young people, the following suggestions might help foster understanding and communication with your adolescent child: Acknowledge your adolescent’s thoughts and feelings. It’s important for young people to express their emotions in ways that feel comfortable to them. Your adolescent might want to...

Read More

Categories: Family News, Very Special Kids News

My baby was going to die and I needed help. We could not survive this journey alone. Very Special Kids welcomed us into their care and we became Team Jack. My son Jack was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The muscles in his tiny body were wasting away. One moment I was holding my beautiful baby boy, the next every hope and dream I had for his life came crashing down. I was told he wouldn’t survive past two. Have you heard the...

Read More

Categories: Family News

It’s Workplace Giving Month in June, a time to celebrate and acknowledge employers and employees making a contribution to charities each week, fortnight, month and/or year through their pay! It is also a time where we would like to empower and motivate others to do the same. Each year through the collective giving from a number of individuals and organisations, workplace giving provides 25 families with access to our Very Special Kids Hospice. Here are five reasons to start workplace...

Read More

Categories: Family News