Trip of a lifetime for patients who are whisked to Florida
(L-R) : Stew Mason with patients Rian, Jai, Lailah, Mehrab, Saqib, Riley, Ella and Physiotherapist Adam Spinks.
Seven seriously ill youngsters from our Children’s Hospital were taken on a trip of a lifetime to Florida thanks to dedicated medics who volunteered to support them.
The children joined 185 other youngsters with long-term, chronic or life-limiting illnesses for the 10-day holiday.
And thanks to a team of doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, the patients who suffer from a range of serious illnesses which require specialist treatment, were able to enjoy the break, which is supported by the charity Dreamflight.
Stew Mason, Head of Nursing for Urgent Care at our Children’s Hospital and the West Midlands Goofy Group Leader, said: “This trip helps show the kids they can do anything they want to do. Just because you have a disability or illness, it doesn’t have to stop you.
“The children are nominated by our nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals who care for them and they would potentially never get the chance to experience a holiday quite like this otherwise.”
Stew was joined by Adam Spinks, the Goofy Group physiotherapist volunteer for the trip. He said: “The children get the VIC (Very Important Children) treatment from the very start.
“Beginning with a party the night before the flight, they head over to the hangar for direct boarding and when they touch down in America they are given a police escort, seeing them safely to the hotel along freeways that have been cleared - something that only otherwise happens for the President.”
Stew and Adam’s ‘Goofy Group’ was made up of Rian and Ella who are treated by our Oncology Team, Mehrab and Riley who are under our Haemoglobinopathy Department, Jai who’s looked after by Haematology, Lailah who’s under the care of the Diabetes Home Care Team and Saqib, who’s treated by our Haemoglobinopathy and Ophthalmology teams.
Each day, they visit some of America’s best theme parks which included Disney’s Discovery Cove, Universal Studios and Hollywood Studios. And the fun doesn’t stop there because after their day out, they spend their evenings at themed evening events and playing in the hotel pool.
Stew added: “There is more to it than theme parks and swimming with dolphins.
“The holiday allows the children’s families some respite, while at the same time giving the children the chance to develop more independence and learn new skills, such as swimming, improving their social skills and even making their own bed.
“It also creates lasting friendships between the children. Despite not having met one another before the trip, by the end of the 10 days, they’re the best of friends and stay in touch once they arrive home.
“The team commit to ‘changing lives’ in a positive way and we do just what it says on the tin.”