A Scots schoolgirl suffering from two rare conditions said her only wish this year is to not spend Christmas in hospital.
Lucy Stewart, from Elgin, is prone to becoming ill during winter and has been admitted to hospital every festive period since she was born.
The 12-year-old was diagnosed with Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula and Oesophageal Atresia at birth, conditions of the oesophagus and trachea. The conditions mean Lucy's food pipe doesn’t work and she has difficulties swallowing as food cannot pass from her throat to her stomach.
At just one-day-old, Lucy underwent major surgery and now has a floppy windpipe and narrow food pipe. This has left her prone to becoming ill and she has suffered swine flu, pneumonia, chest infections, a collapsed lung and chronic lung damage.
Lucy has been admitted every December since she was born and has missed out on festive fun with her friends. She has previously been kept in until Christmas Eve and then readmitted on Boxing Day.
The youngster has now been chosen to front a national festive campaign and hopes to bring joy to thousands of seriously ill children who will be spending Christmas in hospital. Starlight’s Christmas appeal is aiming to raise £400,000 to make play happen in as many health settings as possible.
Lucy knows more than most how important play therapy can be for children in hospital as she benefited from health play professionals when she was in hospital in Aberdeen.
She said: "When you are in hospital for a long time, it's boring! That’s why having toys and games is good. It distracts me from what’s happening. The doctors and nurses sometimes come to take my blood and it hurts.
"I like to play card games, even though mum says I cheat because I always win! Some children in hospital don’t have people who can visit them because they are really poorly and this makes me really sad.
"They can play Fortnite or Minecraft on the tablets, but I think they would like to see their friends. It’s not the same, but the play specialists and nurses are their friends in hospital and they are all super fun!"
She added: “Last year I was in hospital right up until Christmas Eve but then I got home. Christmas at our house is the best. I really hope I’m home for Christmas and not poorly in hospital, that’s my only wish this year”.
Play therapy can help prepare a child for frightening treatments, distract them from painful procedures and prevent loneliness during lengthy hospital stays. However many hospitals in the UK don’t have the funds to make play happen.
Lucy’s mum Claire said: "Last year she missed school in the run up to Christmas and all the fun things that kids usually do.
"We had booked a breakfast with Santa and were planning on going to the panto. But the play workers in the hospital were amazing and the pantomime came to the hospital so we could still watch it.
"They also gave out presents and had decorations on the ward. It wasn’t perfect being in hospital that time, but it was so nice to have these little things”.
She added: “Lucy has been a bit unwell the last couple of weeks with a cough, which is typical for this time of year.
"Hopefully the course of antibiotics will help and she will stay out of hospital! Lucy is keeping everything crossed, she avoids time in hospital as she loves Christmas in our house and also being able to do things with her friends.
"I am so proud of Lucy and how she always aims to help others. It has been a privilege to help Starlight and Lucy has loved being able to help raise awareness for the charity.
"We have spent many a December in hospital, missing out on family time and Christmas celebrations so we understand how hard it can be to spend this time of year away from loved ones and friends in hospital!"
Starlight is the UK's leading health play charity and they aim to prepare children for frightening treatments, distract them from painful procedures and prevent loneliness during lengthy hospital stays. Donations to their Christmas appeal can be made at www.starlight.org.uk/christmas.
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