The world’s first children’s hospice celebrated its 30th anniversary on Tuesday with families and volunteers from down the years.
Helen House was opened in 1982 by Sister Frances Dominica to provide care for children under the age of 16 with life-shortening conditions and support for their families. To celebrate the anniversary, Sister Frances cut a giant ribbon on at the gates of the hospice on Leopold Street, in East Oxford.
She was joined by 30 people, including families, staff and volunteers to represent each year that the hospice has been open. She said: “It feels amazing to be celebrating 30 years. It’s hard to believe that it’s 30 years since we’ve begun. A lot has happened. We’ve learnt a lot and we continue to learn because things change over the years and people’s expectations change. We are always on a steep learning curve.
“The charity has developed from very small beginnings. It was the first children’s hospice in the world. In the beginning people didn’t really know what we were offering, it took time for people to understand. The families understood fairly quickly but it took longer for pediatricians and general practitioners understand what we were offering, which is the same as what we are still offering, friendship, practical help and the highest standards of professional care. “
Since the centre opened, more than 40 children’s hospices have cropped up across the country and now every continent has child hospice care. Helen House provides support to families with children suffering from a range of often slowly progressive conditions, including genetic disorders, muscular dystrophy and cancer.
Micheala Middleton, 43, from Bicester, is the mother of two children, nine-month-year-old Lucie and Finley, three, who suffers from multiple problems including an immune deficiency.
Every eight weeks, Micheala spends three days with Finley in the hospice’s respite centre. She said: “It’s brilliant really. The staff are marvellous, we have a great time when we are here. He does exactly what he wants because people do everything for him. He says jump and they say how high. He has a lovely time and it is very good for us as well."
Micheala found out about Helen House after being referred by a community nurse 18 months ago. She said: “I think if we didn’t have the support we would suffer because Finley’s immune problems mean we don’t get a lot of socialization with other people, families and children.
“It gives us the option to have a social environment for him, he can mix with other children here and because it’s a hospice they are more aware of issues that he could have. It’s good being able to meet other parents because you can talk about things.”
