Chestnut House kept us just a lift-ride away
Born 12 weeks early, baby Madeleine needed specialist treatment in Cambridge. We supported parents Kelly and Jonathan at our Chestnut House ‘Home from Home’ so they could stay by her side.
Family stories
We believe every family with a seriously ill child in hospital should be able to stay together. Here you can read inspiring, first-hand accounts from families who have stayed in one of our ‘Homes from Home’.
We’ve been on a rollercoaster, but Eckersley House was there every step of the way
When twins Riley and Noah were diagnosed with rare moyamoya disease years apart, Eckersley House gave the Watkins family vital comfort and support.
My newborn daughter was diagnosed with an incredibly rare heart defect
Baby Ophelia needed open heart surgery at just three weeks to correct a rare heart defect. Eckersley House made sure her parents, Olivia and Sebastian, were always with her.
It was a monumental moment of strange normality and respite
Hayley and Paul found themselves 60 miles away from home at their baby daughter's hospital bedside as she underwent open heart surgery. Rainbow House kept their family together
Being told we had somewhere to stay which meant we didn’t have to leave our child was the biggest relief.
Esther became critically ill last Autumn. She had a rare virus and was also diagnosed with SCID, she spent three months in hospitals across the country. We gave her parents a place to stay so they could be right by her side.
It really meant the world to me in that moment, as I didn’t feel alone.
Carter was admitted to Addenbrooke's Hospital on Boxing Day when he became seriously ill after contracting a respiratory virus and developing severe breathing apnoea
I was in pieces when I was told that Kori probably wouldn’t survive but Linsey was there with hugs.
Kori has undergone two heart transplants at Freeman Hospital in his short life, throughout his treatment we have been there supporting his family so that they can be right by his side
We were on the other side of the hospital, rather than the other side of the country
Over the last three years we have supported Louise and Sam while their daughter has undergone treatment for her heart in Freeman Hospital, which now is a day's journey from their home.
From Grandad’s point of view
Dave Mercer tells us how knowing his daughter and son-in-law had a place to stay at Scott House impacted the whole family when his granddaughter was in Freeman Hospital
Our long weekend getaway turned into an eight week stay in hospital
Sarah and her husband Paul were spending the weekend away in London when she gave birth 12 weeks prematurely, 270 miles away from home. Stevenson House made sure they had somewhere stay close to their son Brandon.
I burst into tears of relief at Chestnut House as we had somewhere to stay close to our poorly baby
During a 16 week scan Lily and Ashley found out their daughter, Ruby's, kidneys were dilated which made it unlikely she would survive. Chestnut House kept them together while she received specialist treatment.
Being able to make Michael’s favourite meals like Shepherd’s Pie and Lasagne made it special
Michael passed away in 2019 at just 15 years old and spent a lot of time in hospital. His mum, Laura, shares with us how Acorn House helped make his time in hospital a bit easier
We couldn’t be together by her bedside, but at least one of us could always be there without the other being far away
During lockdown, Stacey gave birth to her daughter Esme who was diagnosed with a rare heart condition who needed treatment at Freeman Hospital, which is where we supported her and husband Karl at Scott House