WHY I
donated... Derian House was a lifeline for Paula Slater’s family, after her 10 year
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old daughter Katy was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour I thought hospices were sad places, and it took some persuasion before I made the decision for my daughter Katy to go to Derian House. But it wasn’t what I thought at all – the place has something magical about it. Katy would have celebrated her 21st birthday this May but when she was just ten years old she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and given months to live. She was a bright, happy and popular little girl, had just started year six and was already looking forward to high school when I noticed something wasn’t right. She had begun to have headaches, was sleeping more often and smiling less. After many trips to the hospital, an MRI scan revealed the devastating diagnosis. I was heavily pregnant with my daughter Scarlet at the time and my other child, Charley, who was only eight years-old, was frightened and confused by what was happening. But the incredible staff at Derian House pulled together to make sure that we all had every bit of support we needed. We spent a lot of time there as a family and we have fond memories of that time. I especially remember Jeff the chef, who would go out of his way to make Katy’s
huskies became known as the Team favourite meals and special meals for Katy Husky Huddle and they came to us as a family. It was small things like her funeral and howled together as that that kept us going. Derian is a strangely beautiful place. we arrived. Derian was the place that I gave We laughed a lot while we were birth to baby Scarlet as Katy lay in there, especially Katy, which was so her bed with her dad by her side, it important. There wasn’t anything was where Scarlet had her first bath that the staff wouldn’t do for us. They and where my then-husband, Dave, were so nurturing and their love dyed his hair Katy’s favourite colour shone through in everything they blue to make her smile. And, after did. I remember when they gave a long, hard battle, Derian was the Charley a manager’s badge, and we place that we said goodbye to Katy. all laughed when she told us she She died peacefully in a big bed with didn’t think she could handle the Dave and I cuddled up to her and her responsibility. favourite Disney CD playing. It was One of Katy’s bucket list wishes was very peaceful. to go on a husky sled ride. Of course, We wouldn’t have coped as well we thought this was impossible – but as we did without Derian House’s not at Derian. We had put her list in support, love and belief in us. So, to the press and, out of the blue, a man show our heartfelt gratitude, Charley, named Nick arrived at Derian’s front Scarlet and I are going to walk a 21door with a husky puppy named mile loop in the Lake District Storm. While a sled ride on Katy’s 21st birthday, was out of the question, to raise money for the the staff welcomed hospice and help Storm inside for Katy them continue the to meet. A week incredible work later, a whole load Derian House children’s hospice provides free respite and end of life they do. It’s what of husky puppies care to children and young people Katy would have arrived for the in the North West. Its services cost wanted because children to play over £5 million a year. she always tried to with. After Katy had derianhouse.co.uk help others. passed away, these
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