i want to make a donation to a charity that supports parents of very ill children.

[oregonianabroad]

ds2 had a very minor operation today, made me think.

recomendations please?

how about checking with your hospital to see if they have relatives accomadation? having stayed at parkwood house at harefield, i know they need extra funds through donations etc?

is it that sort of thing you are thinking off?

Is Winston's Wish one of these? Good for you.

I just couldn't stop thinking about parents who have to deal with this on a much more regular basis or in a much more serious way.

Decided I want to make a donation tonight, now we are home safe. I am so grateful.

Great Ormond Street Charity??

This would be my choice locally

www.rainbows.eazytiger.net/index.asp

They do family support, bereavement support, etc

Winston's Wish is for grieving families.

Christ, am I actually being fussy about this?

I am thinking of support along the lines of counselling, and yes, accomodation -- I don't know. It's hard to put it into words.

What a nice person you are OregonianAbroad

What a lovely thought. I have a friend who works as a bereavement counsellor for Edward Trust, a charity supporting parents whose children have been patients at Birmingham Children's Hospital. They are a truly wonderful organisation but I don't know if you're anywhere near this area?

yes, Rainbows Trust is exactly what I want:

'We provide respite, palliative and terminal care to families that include a child with a life limiting illness'

But is there one in the NE?

Oh sorry, you are right. Was thinking of the little boxes they have in macdonalds. Will google.

www.childhospice.org.uk/sections/yourlocal/index.html

what area are you in, and what hospital? i'm sure they may have soemthing.

Ooh, macs' is their own charity.

GOSH is a great idea.

How about Contact a Family www.cafamily.org.uk/more.html They provide advice, support for families with children with physical disabilities and/or rare disorders.

No, I am not a nice person!

I am a mum who nearly had a nervous breakdown today because my little one was poorly, and all I could think of was, 'please, please, please god, I will do anything if i never, ever have to go through this again.'

After it was over, I started to think of how lucky I truly am.

I am probably too emotional to be posting now but i want to make a donation tonight, while the feeling is fresh and I won't end up procrastinating my good intentions (another reason I am not a nice person).

I am in Co Durham, but we were at the RVI today.

My dd has long term health problems oregonian and the relatives accommodation at the hospital has been a godsend over the years. Often a child who needs specialist help has to go to a hospital further away from home and without it parents have to travel or spend weeks living on a hospital ward. They are often run by charities separate from the hospital.

Otherwise you could maybe donate to your local children's hospice. These receive very little funding from government but offer a real lifeline to families with sick children both for respite and end of life care.

And how nice of you to think about other children and their families.

good link, Sue W. I like the fact that it benefits many areas, not just where I live.

Am going to look at yours, pinkteddy.

Thank you Saggarmakersbottomknocker.

I can't imagine how difficult that must be.

Have to say Little Bridge House in Devon.I t is a childrens Hospice and simply marvellous.They have opened another in Bristol.They rely completely on Charitable donations.When I worked there 9 years ago it cost 1.5 million a year to run.They do not stint on anything and are completely fantastic.

Princess Royal Trust for Carers link here or Carers Uk link here
both do agreat job for carers of all kinds.

Butterwick Hospice is a hospice in Teesside if that is local enough for you?
www.butterwick.org.uk/ourhospices/thechildrenshospice/

OK, it is done. I decided to donate to a national charity that supports hospices.

Thank you for your suggestions, and my thoughts are most definitely with those who have very sick children tonight.