Hywel Dda Health Charities Appeals for Community Support to Aid Bereaved Families
Hywel Dda Health Charities is making a heartfelt plea to local communities to assist in offering comfort and support to families who have experienced the devastating loss of a child. The organisation's Wish Fund plays a crucial role in enabling the paediatric palliative care team to deliver personalised assistance and create cherished keepsakes for those navigating unimaginable grief.
Personalised Keepsakes and Support Through the Wish Fund
From hand moulds and fingerprint jewellery to memory boxes and specialised sibling support sessions, the Wish Fund ensures that bereaved families do not face their darkest moments alone. These meaningful items provide solace to parents, carers, and siblings, helping them preserve precious memories during times of profound loss.
Frankie's parents, Phil and Veronica, have shared their personal experience with the Wish Fund, highlighting how it supported them through their most challenging days. "We had the absolute pleasure of looking after the most beautiful, awesome, wonderful, loving, and brave little lad who was very poorly in the last years of his life," they said. "We met his paediatric palliative care team two years before his passing, and boy, what an awesome team they are."
Thanks to the Wish Fund, the family received treasured mementos, including a Christmas bauble, a necklace with Frankie's fingerprint, and a mould of his hand. "Those simple objects are our most treasured possessions, along with a lock of his beautiful hair," they added, emphasising the profound impact of these keepsakes.
How Donations Make a Lasting Impact
The Wish Fund relies entirely on charitable donations, with every contribution having a significant and lasting effect on bereaved families. Here is how different donation amounts can help:
- £15 provides a teddy bear for a bereaved sibling.
- £30 funds a sibling support session.
- £50 creates a hand mould keepsake.
- £70 provides a memory box.
- £85 funds bespoke hand-printed jewellery.
Rebecca McDonald, from the paediatric palliative care team, expressed her gratitude: "I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated and continues to donate to the Wish Fund. Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we have been able to provide meaningful memory-making items and bereavement materials. Your compassion and support truly help us bring comfort, dignity, and lasting memories to the families we care for."
By contributing to the Wish Fund, community members can play a vital role in offering tangible support and comfort to those affected by the loss of a child, ensuring they are not alone during such a difficult time.
