Guest Blog - Leo's Story by Megan Firster

 

Everyone who knows me is aware of my love for and connection to Queensland’s only children’s hospice. I wear my hummingbird tattoo proudly, in memory of my beautiful boy but also as a living tribute to the place that supported him and our family throughout some of the happiest and darkest times.  So, of course, when it was put to Hummingbird House families to create a picture that could possibly be used as a token for the Coles fundraising campaign I jumped at the chance. We did have a logistical issue with the brief though. We were asked to create a hummingbird that represented our child, perhaps by using their hand and footprints, but of course my child wasn’t here to squish his little hand into the paint. To trace around his perfect foot with a felt pen. After some discussion regarding the brief we were supported to do as much of the picture digitally as we needed to to include Leo in the way we wished to. After some assessment we realised Leo’s best footprint was one that was taken by Leo’s kindy teacher as part of my last mother’s day gift, and his best handprints were the ones taken by a caring staff member, at Hummingbird House after his passing. Leo liked to curl his fingers into the palm of his hand so they were the first really nice ones we had.  Leo’s prints were monochrome, so my son Sam, who is my tech support for everything, coloured Leo’s prints digitally to make it look like he had applied the paint to the paper directly. I printed a bunch of them and we all sat down as a family to paint and draw hummingbird bodies in between the handprint wings. Frances, my daughter, is the artist in my family and her hummingbird came more and more to life with every brushstroke. I can’t tell you how elated I was that our picture was chosen, and how proud I am that Leo is continuing on in a way that not only helps raise money for the house, but also represents the bereaved families that are a part of this special service.

 

 

Nobody likes to talk about children that have passed or will pass before their time. It’s a sad subject, but one that is so real and so raw for the families that use this place as a sanctuary. It is so important that this facility remains, and keeps providing all the wonderful services it provides, and to do that fundraisers like the Coles one are so very important.  For many families Hummingbird House gives them air – allows them to take a breath when they are living a life that allows no time and space for one. For other families it is a place to remember their child or to make memories with them in their final days. We were blessed to be able to appreciate all of these aspects of the house. We had so many wonderful family memories, laughs over home cooked meals and time engaging with other families going through similar trials and challenges. Hummingbird House was also the place where Leo had his last bath. Devoured his last mouthful of chocolate mousse. Enjoyed his last swim. Was wrapped in my arms for his last cuddle.  Hummingbird House is a unique space for families of palliative children. There’s no other place in Queensland that offers the range of services that they do and they need your help. Please go to Coles between the 16th of September and the 13th of October and buy a token. I promise it will make all the difference to a family just like ours. To find out more about this year's fundraiser, visit: http://hummingbirdhouse.org.au/home/2020-coles-hummingbird-house-campaign/

 

 

 

Share in the stories of 4 families who created this year's artwork

 

 

Why Reading to Our Littlest Babies Matters

Reading to your baby, especially when you aren’t able to touch them, not only lets them know you are there, it forms a bond that helps to fight the postnatal depression and PTSD experienced by parents of premature babies and babies in intensive and special care. I know. I was in that position, three times. I read to each of the boys when I wasn’t allowed to cuddle them and it made a huge difference.

That’s why I’m so blown away at being asked to the the Ambassador of the very first Life's Little Treasures Foundation Little Readers Readathon, as a Mum and an author. Best of all, Tommy gets to help, too!

Why reading matters…
Even the tiniest babies need frequent exposure to spoken language to ensure optimal early brain development.

During a baby’s time in the Neonatal Unit critical brain development is occurring, including the development of the pathways in the brain that control language skills. By reading to their babies, parents are not only bonding with them and reducing some of the stress associated with being in the NICU, they are also supporting their baby’s brain development.

Babies need frequent exposure to meaningful auditory experiences to ensure optimal early brain development. Research has identified a number of benefits of reading from early infancy, with a lasting effect on language, literacy and early reading skills with a boost in vocabulary at four years of age.

Little Readers read-a-thon

• 

  
  Even the tiniest babies need frequent exposure to spoken language to ensure optimal early brain development.

Who can participate?

This year NIDCAP in partnership with The Life’s Little Treasures Foundation is promoting participation in the Little Readers Read-a-thon. Any neonatal unit (NICU/SCN) in Australia can participate in the Little Readers Read-a-thon. Units need to register to officially participate in the Read-a-thon in order to be eligible for prizes and to provide access to resources.

How to register

It’s easy, just fill in the online form below and we’ll do the rest

What do you get when you register for the read-a-thon?

Once registered for the Little Readers Read-a-thon units will receive a great toolkit which includes everything you’ll need, electronic resources (factsheets, promotion posters, participation certificates, log sheets, survey tools) printed resources (bookmarks, reading booklets).

Prizes

Registrants will also have the opportunity to win some great prizes for highest total number of books read and highest total numbers of reading minutes! …so let’s get reading!

What can you do to prepare for the Little Readers Read-a-thon?

Consider how you can promote the event to parents and staff and what resources you have available to you. If you do not have an existing reading library in your unit consider how you could start one – can you ask for donations from local businesses or supporters?

Can your school library or local council library provide you with decommissioned books?

Downloadable Resources

• Letter to Parents
• When to Read to Baby Factsheet
• Infection Control Factsheet

Our Read-a-thon Ambassador

Michelle & Tom Worthington

Michelle Worthington is an internationally published award-winning author of empowering picture books for children of all ages.

“My goal is to inspire all children to believe in themselves and encourage reluctant readers to fall in love with books.” 

Michelle is also an international guest speaker on the importance of storytelling. Her books have been nominated for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award and Speech Pathology Awards. She was awarded a highly commended in the prestigious 2018 Hilarie Lindsay Children’s Book Awards. Two-time winner of the International Book Award and finalist in the USA Best Book Awards, Michelle also received a Gellett Burgess Award and a Silver Moonbeam Award for her contribution to celebrating diversity in children’s literature.

She’s also a real-life book fairy. Her magic powers include turning coffee into award-winning books. As Founder of Share Your Story Australia, she waves her wand to coach aspiring authors and illustrators all over the world achieve their dreams of publication. Whether she’s a fairy, a mermaid, a pirate or an elf, Michelle celebrates empowering readers and storytellers to dream big.

Register Now

https://lifeslittletreasures.org.au/little-readers-read-a-thon

My Brother Tom by Michelle Worthington at Mater Little Miracles Day in the Park

Please join us on Sunday February 26th, 2017, 9am - 4pm at Pelican Park, Clontarf in order to help raise money for Mater little Miracles in support of premature babies.

This event is open to the public. Please feel free to invite whomever you think might be interested :)

If you can't make it to the event and would still like to help out by donating, please check out our online donations page, which is set up through Mater:

https://give.everydayhero.com/au/candice-cassie-s-mater-little-miracles-day-in-the-park

We are planning a fun family day. There will be free entry and some free live entertainment.

I will be reading and signing copies of My Brother Tom, a book for older siblings of premature babies to help them understand and cope with a stressful time. I will also have my other books for sale with a portion of proceeds going to the event.

In fact, we have just confirmed we will have famous YouTube children's entertainer Debbie Doo flying up ...from Melbourne to perform throughout the day. What an incredible woman! The kids are going to go nuts :)

We will also have characters from your kids' favourite tv shows and movies making appearances, such as Marshall from Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig, Goku from Dragon Ball Z, and Superman.

There will be face painting, jumping castles, a petting zoo, crazy hair stand, disco tent, and a few other fun things for the kids, all for a $2-$5 donation each towards the charity.

We'll have a couple of professional photographers doing themed photoshoots for a great price. So bring your little ones down to capture some great pics, and donate to an amazing cause :)
We will have superheros, princesses, and pop stars themed shoots.

These shoots will need to be booked in, so please contact us for more details.

There will be food and market vendors there on the day so don't forget to bring some extra cash if you would like to do some shopping and eating. These vendors have made generous donations towards the charity in order to be at our event so we'd love to give them lots of business as thanks :)

Please invite your friends and join us for what will not only be a fun-filled day for the kids, but also helping towards an extremely worthy cause :)