Raymond Waterhouse

Having a child with a life-limiting illness can happen to anyone - and when it does, it is absolutely devastating. Imagine being told there is no cure and no-one knows how long your child will live, only that they will need constant round-the-clock care. Almost 65% of our respite care is carried out in the community, not everyone lives within easy reach of our hospice. For a parent with a very poorly child, going anywhere can be an ordeal. They may have more than one child to contend with plus heavy medical equipment. Some of our children are so poorly they cannot travel without an extra person in the car to keep them safe. So if one parent is at work, any sort of journey becomes impossible. For these families, Julia's House respite care for children is a lifeline. Parents can become worn down and isolated, locked into a cycle of full-time care. Being able to go out for a few hours or even just go upstairs for a sleep can be the difference between a family coping or hitting crisis ▼