Christmas at Helen & Douglas House is a truly magical time, filled with excitement as children and staff embrace the holiday spirit together. Yet, the season can also be challenging for many families at the hospice. Our nurses are there to support them through both the joyful moments and the difficult ones. They offer comfort and care and help families create lasting memories – even during their child’s final days.
Meet Emily
Emily, one of our nurses who has been at Helen & Douglas House for eight years. Here’s three fun facts about her:
- Her favourite time of year is Christmas!!
- She loves being outdoors
- She has two cats which she named after the tweenies (Belle and Milo)
Meet Rhian
Rhian, one of our nurses who has been at Helen & Douglas House for 12 years. Here’s three fun facts about her:
- In her spare time, she helps run a grassroots football team – Cotswold Lions Football Club
- She is a massive fan of jokes – she loves trading jokes with the patients and their siblings at Helen & Douglas House.
- Her sister has jumped out of a plane, climbed Kilimanjaro and ran the London Marathon all for Helen & Douglas House
1. Children’s Christmas Party
One of our favourite traditions at Helen & Douglas House is the annual hospice Christmas party, where children and families come together to celebrate. Families can connect with others who understand the challenges of having a medically complex child during Christmas. The play team organise festive activities, the catering team provide a feast, and there are pantomime performances, magicians and musicians. We are also lucky to get visits from animals like penguins and ponies which light up the children’s faces. Each child receives a special gift, making it a memorable moment for all. We have a Santa’s grotto, and children’s rooms are decorated with twinkling lights and mini-Christmas trees for those staying longer.
Janeta, Sienna’s Mum said: “Thank you for the unforgettable Christmas party, bringing the Christmas spirit and magic in these challenging times. We’re grateful for Father Christmas and his elves, who gave each child special time to talk about their Christmas letters and wishes. We enjoyed meeting the animals, the theatre performance, and the delicious treats. This was a magical day to remember.”
2. Clarence House visit
We are incredibly grateful to be invited to Clarence House by Her Majesty The Queen. Each year, five families have the special honour of decorating her Christmas tree. The children pick their decorations, which Her Majesty or her equerry, with his sword, helps place on the tree. The children also get to try on the equerry’s marvellous hat, enjoy a delicious dinner of sausage and mash, and take home a lovely royal goodie bag filled with toy corgis and Christmas decorations. This unforgettable experience brings such joy to our wonderful children and families.
Mary, Jack’s Mum said: “What a wonderful and magical experience, Her Majesty was so kind and thoughtful to the families and the children. Jack enjoyed decorating the tree with Her Majesty and meeting Father Christmas and ending the afternoon with feeding the reindeer. It was a truly magical experience and has put us all in the spirit of Christmas! Thanks to all involved to making the day a special memory with Jack.”
Nathan, a child who comes to Helen & Douglas House said: “I got to sing again, and everyone clapped. It was the best day ever.”
3. Last Christmas dinner
Last Christmas, we supported a 15-year-old girl, whose warmth, intelligence, and humour left a lasting impact. As she neared the end of her life, she recorded special messages for loved ones, creating memories her family will always treasure. The catering team provided a special Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, allowing her to celebrate with her extended family, playing games and enjoying traditions together. The nurses handled her medical needs so that her family could focus on simply being with her. She passed away on Boxing Day, surrounded by her loved ones.
4. Supporting siblings at Christmas
Our Sibling Support team organises festive trips to spread Christmas cheer and create opportunities for siblings to connect with peers who understand the experience of missing a sibling during Christmas or having a sibling who is unwell. These trips provide a safe space for them to share their feelings while enjoying festive activities together.
They have organised a visit to Blenheim Lights, where a small group of siblings and their families explored the stunning grounds of Blenheim Palace. Highlights included the enchanting light tunnel, meeting Santa, and admiring the beautifully decorated Christmas trees.
They also planned a trip to Snozone in Milton Keynes, where siblings hit the slopes, practising their sledging skills and enjoying some snowy fun.
5. 24/7 support
We’re here to help local families 24/7, 365 days a year, including Christmas Day and all bank holidays. Our team is available by phone anytime for support, and we offer pre-bookable stays to manage symptoms, including right up to Christmas Eve, after Christmas, and over New Year. As the holidays approach, our outreach and medical teams work hard to ensure families have support plans, medication, and nursing cover in place.
We work closely with families to honour their wishes during Christmas, respecting their faiths, beliefs, and preferences around Christmas activities. For families with a child nearing the end of life during this time, we show compassion and as a team we honour each family’s wishes. This could be choosing not to celebrate or bringing Christmas forward if needed for a child coming to the end of their life.
End of life care
A child called, Ella, and her family had been staying in Helen & Douglas House. The family wanted to keep Christmas as normal as possible so we made it extra special for the family by setting up their own dining area away from staff but close enough that staff could support Ella if she deteriorated quickly. Ella had her own Christmas tree outside her bedroom and lots of twinkly lights. We worked on Boxing Day, and it was so lovely to be involved with the families’ celebrations, seeing what Ella got for Christmas, playing with her sibling and his new toys and spending time talking with Ella’s parents. It felt such a privilege to be a part of their Christmas celebrations and support them during the difficult time.
6. Helping bereaved families through this tough time of year
For families who have lost a child, Christmas can be a particularly tough time, filled with memories of past celebrations shared together. Our bereavement support workers are here to offer comfort and guidance to help these families through the season. We also provide resources, such as our guide ‘Navigating the festive period’, which offer some suggestions for coping during this challenging time.
