The Lowdown on Hospices

Children's Hospices are one of those things that most of us know nothing about. We have a general gist of what one is but have avoided thinking about it too much because to start thinking about children's hospices is to start thinking about children being ill enough to need one and there are no two ways about it - that is a very upsetting thing.

It is a surprise, therefore, that when you start looking at children's hospices sadness and illness (and yes... death) are in no way their main focus.

My local hospice, Derian House, is a prime example. On their website their focus is made clear right at the start. That they help families and parents cope with the illness and the everyday challenges that it brings but also that they pack as much fun and laughter as they can into every single day. After all - that is what we hope for all of our children and terminal illness makes fun and laughter an even more essential hope.

Hospices offer families medical help and all different sorts of practical and emotional support during the most difficult part of their lives. They also offer support towards the end of a child's life and bereavement help for those left behind.

Now here is the big thing... children's hospices are charities. They rely heavily on us as communities for their funding. If you would like to donate directly to the UK Children's Hospices charity (who not only support each hospice but also do things such as lobbying the government for changes) then you can do so on their website. You can also donate to most local hospices via their own websites.

This is where Hipp-O-Dee-Doo-Dah! comes in. Embracing the aims of hospices to provide practical help but also trying to bring joy to children's lives, Hipp-O-Dee-Doo-Dah! is a collection of light hearted tales designed to bring joy to the reader whilst also raising money for the UK Children's Hospices charity. This money includes a large portion of the profits inaddition to quite a lot of the author royalties.

News is to to follow soon about where you can buy a copy of Hipp-O-Dee-Doo-Dah!

Thanks for reading folks and once again count your blessings and be thankful for every good thing in your life.

Dulcie
x

Counting My Blessings

Not so long ago I had a lovely day with my family. Ten of us went to the beach and played at chasing waves. Then we had a barbecue and played in an outdoor hot tub. Alright the weather was a little grey and breezy but other than that it was perfect. With my family around me and a new job on the horizon I counted my blessings. A little later on my 6 year old got a terrible stomach ache so I stroked his head and rocked him until he fell asleep. Last time he got a stomach ache it got so bad we had to take a trip to hospital so I was a tiny bit worried and hoped he would sleep through the night and feel better in the morning. He did.

In stark relief this made me think about families of children who are more seriously ill. Whilst my happiness was created by big joys such as being surrounded by children running around and laughing and my imminent career change, parents of seriously or terminally ill children take their happiness from much smaller triumphs. Many live in a world where a day when their child managed to take a bite of food or woke long enough to smile at them is a very good day. My worry about my six year old's stomach ache ("will he get through the night without waking up?") is such a welcome worry when others look at their sleeping child and think "will they get through the night?"

So as we start off our blogging adventure to celebrate the launch of Hipp-O-Dee-Doo-Dah! lets also take a moment to count our very many blessings and to think of the real reason for this book - to raise money for UK Hospices and in turn to make the lives of the children and families they help a little easier.

Tomorrow we will take a look at the work that UK Children's Hospices do and the difference they make in people's lives then later in the week we will spend some time talking about my own story in Hipp-O-Dee-Doo-Dah! and some other writing topics.

Thanks for reading folks and please do follow our blog to read postings from many other authors over the next few months.

Dulcie

x

Not much longer!

The book should be released any day- so keep watching Amazon!

Foreword

A little peak at what Michael Morpurgo says in his foreword...

I was delighted to be asked to write a few words about the anthology...here is an uplifting collection of stories from a great range of writers and voices - something for everyone.
Within these pages, you will meet all sorts of characters, of all ages and nationalities, of both the human and animal variety. We explore the secrets and passions that animate their lives, whether it be the plight of a star-fish dropping from the sky or two evacuee children coming to terms with their homesickness. There is a special place here for friendship, between grandchild and grandparent, between children and animals, from hippos to imaginary horses. Have you ever met a hippo or an imaginary horse? You soon will…

To find out what else he says you will need to buy the book- due out in MAY!

Coming Soon!

This wonderfully uplifting collection of short stories to raise funds and awareness for Children's Hospices UK! Release date May 13th!!!