spotlight on unsung heroes

a spotlight on the unsung heroes

The medical needs of every child that uses Tˆy Hafan are incredibly complex, with some conditions virtually unique to that child. So when it comes to providing our holistic support to these children, it takes a team of highly trained professionals to meet their needs.

You’ve met our nurses in these pages before and we love to share videos and photos of the specialists in the community team on our social media. But who are the unsung heroes who make sure the children always have someone there for them, who provide support to the nurses and love to get just as messy during messy play as the children? Karen is a healthcare support worker at Tˆy Hafan and this is what she loves about her work.

I have been working at Tˆy Hafan for just over three years as a healthcare support worker (HCSW), working alongside nurses and other professionals to offer short break care, crisis care and end-of-life care to children and their families.

It’s a very special place to work. I feel very fortunate to enjoy my job and feel privileged to be able to work with such amazing children, and spending time with them and their families - it’s not everyone that can say they came into work and dressed as a Tellytubby for a shift! Our days / nights can vary between having lots of fun – a water fight with a child and their sibling in the playground, celebrating Christmas in the summer to enable families to make precious memories or simply reading a favourite story to a child in bed who needs comforting. Knowing parents and families trust you with their child enough to be able to leave them in your care is huge, massive!! Hopefully, they can take time to catch up on some time for themselves and any other children they have, recharge. Sometimes just being able to sleep through a night is what they need the most.

We were caring for an inspirational young lady whose dream was to go to a music festival. Unfortunately, due to the nature of her illness and diagnosis it was not possible to arrange. Her mother, another inspirational lady, organised a festival in her name and I was very lucky and privileged to be able to take her, along with a fabulous nurse, Kaite (pictured with me opposite), to attend attend the festival.

The welcome we had and the whole day was one I will never forget. I will always be grateful to have been a small part of the day. Sadly, the young lady passed away shortly after, but her mother is hoping to continue with them as an annual event to raise awareness around her daughter’s condition and funds for various charities including Tˆy Hafan.

one standout memory