Hywel Dda Health Charities’ Wish Fund provides support to families during times of bereavement.
The fund enables Hywel Dda University Health Board’s paediatric palliative care team to offer personalised support, keepsakes and memory-making opportunities for families following the loss of a child.
Phil and Veronica, parents supported by the Wish Fund, said: “We had the absolute pleasure of looking after the most beautiful, awesome, wonderful, loving and brave little lad who was very poorly in the last years of his life.
“We met his paediatric palliative care team two years before his passing and boy, what an awesome team they are.
“We will never be able to thank the Wish Fund enough.
“Thanks to the Wish Fund, we had the most amazing mementos, a Christmas bauble, a necklace with Frankie’s fingerprint on it and a mould of his hand.
“Those simple objects are our most treasured possessions along with a lock of his beautiful hair.”
Items funded through the scheme help families create lasting memories during their most difficult moments, and include hand moulds, fingerprint jewellery, memory boxes, and specialist sibling support.
A donation of £15 provides a teddy for a bereaved sibling, £30 covers a sibling support session, £50 funds a hand mould keepsake, £70 supplies a memory box, and £85 covers bespoke hand-printed jewellery.
Rebecca McDonald, clinical nurse specialist in paediatric palliative care, said: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has donated and continues to donate to the Wish Fund.
“Thanks to your kindness and generosity, we have been able to provide meaningful memory-making items and bereavement materials.
“These resources make an immeasurable difference in helping us support our families through the most difficult time.
“Your compassion and support truly help us bring comfort, dignity, and lasting memories to the families we care for.
“Thank you for your support in helping us make a big difference to families we support across our health board.”
The Wish Fund relies on charitable donations.
To find out more or to donate to the Wish Fund visit hywelddahealthcharities.nhs.wales/campaigns/the-wish-fund.
