Weaving their magic.
Last week, the day before Ivy needed to go to surgery
and when she was stable enough,
the Starlight Captains in our hospital organised time for Ivy to come down to the Starlight Room.
They made sure that everything was okay with our nurses
and that there was little risk of infection
and then they pampered the small girl
and made her feel like the most important person in the world.
Painting fingernails and toenails
and faces
seems like such a simple thing
but it means so much when you are small and isolated
and brings so much joy.
Ivy is always relaxed and happy when she is with them -
even on bad days they can always bring a smile to the girl.
The Captains are like a breakthrough of sunshine on cloudy days
with their amazing energy
and kindness towards all of the children who frequent our hospital here.
I will always be thankful for them and for Starlight.
This year the Starlight Children’s Foundation Australia is celebrating 25 years of transforming the experience of hospitalisation and treatment for seriously ill children across Australia.
It was founded in 1988 and has become such an integral part of care for children who are struggling with illness.
Starlight have been such a big part of our lives since the very beginning of our journey.
The Captains especially have always been there.
They symbolise happiness and laughter for Ivy and for our other kids too.
Starlight represent time out from the seriousness of life with a sick child
and they represent hope.
Hope for Ivy
and for me.
That’s kind of a big deal when a lot of the time things feel out of control
and a little helpless.
Ivy and our family have been invited to be ambassadors for Starlight as they commemorate this year
and we are truly honoured and humbled
and a bit proud as well
but most of all we hope to be able to give back just a little of all that we have been given.
If you are a supporter of Starlight (and thank you if you are), you might see Ivy’s face around the traps
as we share Ivy’s story, her wish and how important a foundation like this is for families like ours.
I’m looking forward to writing about some of our adventures here too
and hope that in some small way we can help to celebrate the wonderful Captains,
the volunteers
and the people who work tirelessly
weaving their magic into the world of seriously ill children everywhere.
These photos just make me smile so much.
Oh how lovely. Tiff, do you have details of where one can sign up to be a regular Starlight supporter? The kids and I would really love to do this in honour of Ivy and my own brother.
Kathy – here is a link on all of the ways that you can help.
http://www.starlight.org.au/Howyoucanhelp/Pages/default.aspx
Thank you for wanting to xx
Such a shame they don’t have a Starlight group of captains that can pamper the parents for just a short while too, especially while their children are being cheered up. Something as simple as a back massage, foot massage, paint the nails, even just a really nice cappuccino! Something to relieve the pressures you’re feeling too.
What a wonderful way to help sick kids and their families. I have never heard of anything so cool here in the usa–wondering how we can organize something along this line here for Oakland Children’s Hosp….
May Ivy’s health stabilize and send you home to the welcoming arms of the rest of the family.
Bravo, Starlight captains!
So good to see that these wonderful volunteers can bring Ivy so much happiness in her isolation and otherwise unhappy place. They certainly do weave a special kind of magic for Ivy and she and the family will undoubtedly be wonderful ambassadors for such a worthwhile organisation. xoxo
The ‘cappo’s’ are valued more than they will ever realise. The family away from home that brightens our dreary days!
They will brush it off and say its all in a days work…. but it is truly making a massive difference in our lives and i couldnt imagine them not being there!
Thank you Starlight Captains….. especially the Cappos at John Hunter.. they rock!
amazing energetic people
Starlight is such a wonderful cause.
The way the captains can bring Ivy out of her shell, encourage her to spread her wings is so beautiful to watch. If I could be a fly on the wall every time they convinced a sick little girl she was a princess, or a hurt little boy that he is bravest of them all, it would be a source of constant joy. If I could bottle the magic they bring into the room with them every time, I don’t think I would ever lack a reason to smile. They always seem to have the right timing, swooping in just when things are falling apart, putting everything back together with their glitter glue.
I don’t think I could ever thank Starlight enough for everything they do for Ivy and you. For all of us.
And I don’t think they could have picked a more beautiful face to be an ambassador, or a more beautiful writer.
As a former volunteer for Starlight I know how much work goes into making kids and their families smile, but it is 10000% worth it. Ivy will be a great ambassador for a great cause. Loving these photos, could your precious cherub look any prouder? xo
I used to work at Starlight and by sharing your story and photos you are helping to raise so much money to help keep the Starlight Express Rooms and Captain Starlights there for the kids. You are truly fabulous!
And Immy what you wrote is breathtaking – I think if you would be happy to share that with Starlight, they would love to share it with a lot more donors to help them understand the real essence of the Captains and how important they are for the kids and families.
It seems beautiful writing runs in the family.
Truly beautiful people who deserve celebrating for all they do to make Ivy – and all the Ivys out there – feel joy in stressful times.
So beautiful, Im teary looking at how happy Ivy is and how genuinely happy the starlight crew are. It must just mean so much to all the families like you, who want their child to be well and happy. To get the latter even just for a short while, must make the load just a little lighter for that time. I would love to help, I’ll follow the link above… xxxxx
What wonderful pictures of Ivy, she is so precious and the fantastic Starlight team.
Lovely pictures and a wonderful crew!
Aaaaand done. Monthly donation set up