With Christmas just gone and so many recent new arrivals among the congregation, you may have spent more time than usual thinking about babies lately. There are few things that bring as much love and hope than the arrival of a baby, but sadly not all arrive into this world safe and well.
One in every nine babies in the UK is born prematurely or unwell and needs to be admitted to special or intensive care. Sick and premature babies may be taken from their parents at birth and placed in an incubator where they cannot be held or fed; they may require machines such ventilators to keep them alive; and they may face the challenges of lengthy periods in hospital or profound disabilities.
Any of you whose lives have been touched by these issues will know how devastating it can be, and that’s why Bliss, a charity working to ensure that sick babies and their families are properly supported, is so deserving of being one of the charities of the year at HPC. An impressive £750 was raised for Bliss at the Spring Fair.
Bliss provide a helpline, publications and buddies for families going through the bewildering experience of neonatal care, and campaign for higher standards in hospitals, as well as on issues in research and education. They also do the immensely difficult job of supporting families having to make decisions about palliative care, and coping with the death of a baby.
In the last year:
– 1,000 families were helped by Bliss Nurses
– the helpline was used by more than 4,000 families
– the free counseling service was used by 70 parents
– Bliss information was used in all 210 neonatal units in the country
Next year Bliss hopes to:
– appoint 3 more Bliss nurses
– create a new handbook for families of babies admitted directly to special care units
– fund and support at least 30 neonatal research projects
Frances Llewellin at Bliss has sent the following message:
‘We’d like to give our sincere thanks to everyone at Hampstead Parish Church for their support this year. Your support is really appreciated and without it we wouldn’t be able to continue helping families with babies needing special care. It is a fantastic amount to have raised and will make a big difference’
Thank you for helping some of the smallest and most vulnerable members of our community – they can’t thank you themselves, but your generosity has allowed Bliss to give them a voice.
www.bliss.org.uk
Bliss (Baby Life Support) Charity Update