“My daughter Athena was a fit and healthy 3-and-a-half-year-old until in January 2023 when she caught the flu, RSV and a strain of Adenovirus all at the same time. This layer cake of viruses completely overwhelmed her and after a few days at our local hospital she was collected by the Children’s Acute Transfer Service (CATS) – a specialist intensive care ambulance for children – and taken to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
“Athena was visited several times by Spread a Smile entertainers whilst there. The most memorable time was when one of their singers visited Athena only minutes after being extubated. She provided the gentlest and calmest wake-up ever for Athena, joining us for one of the best moments of our life.
“Unfortunately, the viruses and the ventilator use left Athena with extensive lung damage, including a partial collapse on both lungs. Athena was admitted to the Royal Brompton Hospital at Easter 2024 for investigation and 2 weeks of IV treatment. The Play Team there had a magic cupboard filled with toys and gifts donated by Spread a Smile that Athena could earn by doing her physio and having her IVs through her PICC line. These were such a great motivator for her and the other Spread a Smile surprises like face paints, craft books and Easter Eggs helped to break up the long days in hospital.
“We left the Royal Brompton with a diagnosis of Bronchiolitis Obliterans, an incurable scarring of the lungs which can be life limiting. While we were on the ward, the Play Team encouraged us to register with Spread a Smile to see how they could support us.
“Within a few days of leaving hospital we were contacted by someone from Spread a Smile who managed to get us last minute tickets to see Frozen the Musical. It was so much more than just a theatre trip as it gave us something to talk about and look forward to and carried us through the days after Athena’s diagnosis. We had such a magical day. It was wonderful to connect with other families and to see that there’s still lots of fun and joy to be found in a life that’s different to what you’d planned.
“Spread a Smile seems to have the most uncanny ability to pop up in our lives when it’s needed the most. We were called one day out of the blue and offered a 1:1 virtual session that day, and it just so happened that Athena was very unwell that day. Athena was so upset to learn that she still needed to do her 4 times a day nebuliser treatments at Christmas and the Christmas Smile Hampers that Spread a Smile sent completely turned the day around.
Athena at the Spread a Smile Winter Party
“And then the Spread a Smile Winter Party gave us something to look forward to. All we had after Christmas to think about was our next inpatient stay and our ongoing battle against Athena’s current pseudomonas infection. The Party gave us something fun to think about as a family.
“I can’t overstate how wonderful it is to go somewhere where your family is just accepted and where everyone else is on a similar path to you. I told someone recently that we were going to the Winter Party and what it was for and they said they couldn’t think of something more depressing. it’s very clear that they’ve never been to or seen any Spread a Smile event! They are the most uplifting and fun celebrations and they make you stop, pause and enjoy spending time with your children. For instance, at the Party, Athena’s 2 year old brother, Ennio, had a lovely time decorating a biscuit and I realised that I had never done something like that with him in 2 years (he was about 9 weeks old when Athena first got sick). Something so simple and yet so rewarding. Being able to spend that time together as a family really meant the world to us.” Laura, Athena’s Mum
Just £30 will help fund an entertainer visit for a child in hospital.
Please help ensure we can continue to support children and young people like Athena and their families by donating today. Thank you.