Oxford children’s hospice supporting International Nurses Day

Oxford-based children’s hospice Helen & Douglas House is celebrating International Nurses Day on Monday, May 12, by asking people to buy from its charity shops.
The money raised each week from the charity’s 25 shops could fund two nurses for a year.
Hannah Marsh, from Abingdon, is one of 37 fully qualified nurses who care for terminally ill children at Helen & Douglas House.
Nurse Hannah Marsh (right) with Eddie Fulwell and two other nurses from Helen & Douglas House on World Book Day (Image: Helen & Douglas House) She said: “My journey at Helen & Douglas House started when I was a student nurse in my second year in training.
“I was welcomed by a warm and kind team who were eager to teach.
“After spending a year in the hospital post qualifying as a nurse, I was ready to get back to the type of nursing I wanted to do.
“Nursing where you get to know the child and the families so you can provide the best individualised and family centred care you can.”
Nurse Hannah Marsh with Elliot Haines (Image: Helen & Douglas House) She added: “Every day is different at Helen & Douglas House; some days involve arts and crafts, playing on the roundabout, and even dressing up for World Book Day as Little Miss Sunshine.
“However, in-between the fun and the laughs we respond medically to complex seizures like Eddie has with compassion and care.”
Eddie Fulwell, who has a complex and life-limiting condition, started going to Helen & Douglas House about a year ago.
Nurse Hannah Marsh with Eddie Fulwell on World Book Day (Image: Helen & Douglas House) The hospice helps him with seizure management and allows him and his family to spend quality time together.
Chris Fulwell, Eddie’s dad, said: “It is not an exaggeration to say that Helen & Douglas House have been lifesavers in an incredibly challenging time for us as a family.
“They have provided a consistently high level of care for our son, Eddie, from the very first time they met him at just a few months old.
Nurse Hannah Marsh with Luke Heyworth (Image: Helen & Douglas House) “It is clear just how much everyone at Helen & Douglas House enjoys looking after Eddie, and he is always comfortable and settled in their care.”
He added: “We have called the nurses at Helen & Douglas House at all hours of the day and night to ask questions about Eddie’s condition, medication, and to ask advice when things have been tough.
“Every single time we have called, we have been greeted warmly and given good, helpful advice – the nurses have also followed up by calling us back to check in, even in the middle of the night whilst Eddie and I were in the back of an ambulance.
“The standard of care is exceptional and has been in every interaction we’ve had with Helen & Douglas House.”