Help Support Scotland's Sick Children

Parents Nick and Amy parents of 2 year old twins Tom and Alistair share their experience of how Yorkhill Children's Charity has made a difference by providing world class medical equipment and a leading and innovative play service.

Both twins, who were born early, have spent long periods of time in the landmark hospital, and dad Nick speaks to community groups about the work done there. Tom recently needed to spend two months in Yorkhill, and was discharged at the start of July 2014

Nick said: "Yorkhill means lots of things to lots of people, but to us it has literally meant the difference between life and death on more than one occasion."Most recently, Tom had a complicated operation to help him breathe and spent three weeks on a ventilator in intensive care, followed by another month on a ward.  

In addition to receiving support from Yorkhill with life-saving equipment and care, the twins and their family have received emotional support and had laughter in hospital from the charity's Clown Doctor service. Said Nick, "Amy and I know first hand how difficult it is for parents in that situation, and the twins' grandparents have all been on hand throughout, too."We know what a difference even the small things can make to parents and children who're in Yorkhill, and how much the charity needs the money to make those small things possible."Tom was coming round from his operation at the end of June and was a miserable, poorly little boy - it was awful to see him looking so down because he's normally so jolly.

"One afternoon we had a visit from the Clown Doctors, who dress as clowns and entertain the children while they're in their beds or wards. Tom wasn't sure at first, but after a while of having bubbles blown at him and a woman with a red nose singing in his direction he started to smile, then he actually laughed.

"It was a great moment, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house - either from Amy and I or from the nurses who were watching. The poor boy had been through so much and that one laugh was just priceless."

The Clown Doctors programme which stems from the Scottish arts-in-health charity, Hearts & Minds, is solely funded by Yorkhill Children’s Charity and aims to improve the experience of people in hospital by using performing arts to encourage communication, interaction and laughter.  The charity ensure twice weekly Clown Doctor visits continue at Yorkhill Hospital which currently caters for approximately 4000 vulnerable children and their families.

The Clown Doctors programme responds to the specific needs of each patient through extensive liaison with healthcare staff. They also work to involve parents and siblings of patients to encourage a shared experience at a very difficult time in their lives.

Tom, is recovering from his operation, but along with brother Alistair still visits Yorkhill for regular check-ups and looks forward to meeting his special friends the Clown Doctors, who helped make an upsetting experience so much more bearable.

Now the twins - who're toddling, had a great day with parents Nick and Amy at a recent Yorkhill Community event being pushed from Yorkhill Hospital to local park Glasgow Green and back in aid of the charity which, along with the NHS and countless medics, has helped them grow up. Nick and Amy both sum up how much Yorkhill means to them. "When your son is in an incubator which says 'Funded by Yorkhill Children's Charity' on the side, it's hard not to understand the value in the work the organisation does".