THEY have helped hundreds of Huddersfield families. Now Martin House Children’s Hospice is celebrating 25 years – and is caring for 78 Huddersfield families at the moment.
The Boston Spa facility was the first of its kind in the north of England and offers support to families who have children with progressive life-limiting illnesses.
Families using the hospice described it as a “home from home” – which truly defined its success.
More than 100 staff work tirelessly to uphold the hospice’s feeling of familiarity and although sadness is often inevitable, the happiness and comfort described by its visitors is overwhelming.
Harriett Linley, from Holmfirth, was referred to Martin House by her consultant at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary nearly 13 years ago.
She suffers from several health complications including rare brain formation known as lissencephaly which means she is neurologically impaired due to a lack of development of brain folds.
She also has polymicrogyria which is a condition characterised by abnormal development of the brain before birth.
Her mum Martine said that Harriett uses Martin House for around 14 days a year when the family go to Tenerife.
The nursery nurse said: “It is difficult to imagine life without it.
“If it wasn’t here the children wouldn’t get a holiday and Harriett wouldn’t get to socialise with other children her own age.
“With Harriett’s condition comes a lot of health complications and I feel that this is the only place that can deal with anything thrown at them.
“Not only that but it is a place that the other two children enjoy. They can go away without restrictions.
“I start to relax when I see the signs for Boston Spa.
“You don’t realise how much the everyday routine takes out of you until you stop.
“In those two weeks I can do simple things like get out of bed and have a shower or decide to have pizza at 2pm – and the kids are not restricted.
Martine lives on a farm in Oldfield with her daughters and husband Robert and usually begins her daily routine with Harriett at 6.30am.
Her middle daughter Olivia said that for her the best bit about the hospice was that she was able to “spend time with mum” knowing that Harriett was in good hands and Netherthong Primary pupil Georgie loves the jacuzzi.
Kirsty Brook, of Lower Fixby, said although they have the option of transferring to the new Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Brackenhall, coming to Martin House for her family feels like having a holiday.
She recently made an emergency call to Martin House with her four-year-old son Archie who suffers from an epileptic condition known as West’s Syndrome and polymicrogyria when she went into labour with 12-week-old Kasper.
She said: “My waters broke in HRI when Archie was having a check-up for a chest infection.
“We didn’t want him to stay at the hospital so my husband Dave brought him here where we knew he would be much happier.
“After I had Kasper we all came and spent time here as it was killing me to be apart and that Alfie wasn’t with his new little brother.
“It’s great just to sit down, make a cup of tea and talk to other families who know what you area going through.
“It is great company and you just feel so welcomed and as though you are a big family.
“Being here gives me a chance to just be a mum instead of a carer. I can sit down and just have a cuddle with my son.
“Without being able to come here I wouldn’t be able to spend that time with Kasper and going to hospital all the time – I would put him at risk of infection.”
Debbie Booth has not just used the hospice for support but has also called on the home care team to help with her 13-year-old daughter Bethany who suffers from cerebral palsy.
“As soon as you walk in the door you start to relax,’’ she said.
“It is a home from home. Everybody is so friendly and over the years I think we have got to know everybody.
“When things have got really hard I have called Martin House and they have agreed to have Bethany.
“It is quite difficult as you are so protective, but it gives us a chance for a little bit of respite.
“My son Daniel has enjoyed coming here too but as he has grown up he probably is grateful to Martin House for different things.
“It is harder now Bethany is getting older and in the last two years we haven’t really relaxed too much.”
Grandma Ruth Booth said: “Bethany is stimulated here – she is entertained and among friends.
“It is a wonderful place.”
The Duchess of Kent officially opened the hospice in 1987.
The founding head nurse, Lenore Hill, was appointed one year before the opening which meant she helped shaped the development of Martin House to fully meet the needs of the children and their families.
Head of care Sheila O’Leary took over from her in 2004 and has now been at the hospice for 21 years.
She said: “The most important thing for us is listening to the families who come here.
“We adapt to meet their needs and ensure that everybody feels as comfortable as possible.
“In 25 years we have grown and 10 years ago we opened Whitby Lodge – our teenage unit – and the home care has also developed.
“Each individual family has their own way of coping and no family goes on the same journey.
“We have tried hard to take the medical feel out of bedrooms and make the child feel as though it is their bedroom.”
There are 15 bedrooms, nine in Martin House itself where younger children and families stay and six with ensuite bedrooms in the teenage unit.
There are also eight parents bedrooms available.
Paediatrician Dr Mike Miller transferred from Huddersfield Royal Infirmary eight years ago to work at the hospice.
He said that keeping up-to-date with new care is vital for parents’ confidence.
“We have fantastic links with children’s medical care across Yorkshire,’’ he said.
“Over the years we have particularly developed symptom management.
“We will work really hard to get children better and if we can’t we will manage their condition.
“Communication is key and we focus on increasing the child and parents understanding.
“We also have a very large education team who are vital to making sure we are up to date.”
Linda Senior was delighted with the way her son Russell was treated at Martin House but couldn’t believe there was no similar facility in or near Huddersfield.
It was then that she was inspired to set up the Forget Me Not Trust and began fundraising 12-years-ago. The £3.1m Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice has now been built off Fell Greave Road, Brackenhall.
Charity Challenge 2012
MARTIN House Children’s Hospice is urging its supporters to take part in this year’s Examiner Charity Challenge.
This is the 23rd Examiner Charity Challenge and over the years the event has raised £750,000 for a massive range of charities.
The challenge is at a new home this time at the Lepton Highlanders Sports and Social Club just off Wakefield Road at Lepton.
This year the aim of the challenge is to help smaller charities and good causes which is why we are eager for groups like junior sports clubs, Cubs, Guides, Brownies, Scouts, community groups and schools to sign up.
All the organisation is done by Lions clubs across Huddersfield and the Examiner.
To enter simply fill in the form that is appearing regularly in the Examiner or download one from our website at www.examiner.co.uk/charitychallenge.
People can email the completed form to us or print it out and then send it by post but they will need to include a stamped addressed envelope.
It was the brainchild of the Venerable Richard M C Seed, Archdeacon of York
His idea was taken up by supporters who organised a massive fundraising drive
They acquired six acres of land close to the villages of Clifford and Boston Spa
Martin House was opened in 1987 by the Duchess of Kent
It has 15 bedrooms in two buildings
The landscaped grounds include the Courtyard Garden and the Sensory Garden
Indoor facilities include a play room, an art room, a music room and a multi-sensory room.
