Categories
News

A delivery to Ward 84 and a beautiful poem received in return!

Our brilliant delivery team David and Vicky took a further  20 Milly Bags to Manchester Children’s Hospital last month, and this delivery included the 600th Bag.
A short while later we were sent this beautiful poem about our bags, knowing how much of a difference each bag makes is why we do what we do.  
In the darkest of days, a rainbow shines through,
In the form of a bag filled with goodies for you.
A blanket that doubles as a hug when required,
And a travel mug for coffee which is essential when tired.
When you need to remember, there’s a diary and pen,
And of course, an elephant teddy for when you need a friend.
A towel and wash kit for you to freshen up,
And a cool beanie hat if you feel you need to cover up.
A heat pack to chase all those aches and pains away,
And jelly babies that keep the dietitians happy during your stay.
All of these things you won’t realise you need, when you’re brought to hospital at unexpected speed.
So when you arrive here and discover this magical pack,
It’s comforting to know that Milly and her rainbow bags have already got your back.
Categories
News

Baby Cole and family say ‘Thank you so much’

We received this lovely message last week from Chris who also included gorgeous photos of his little boy, our hearts just melted…
“Good morning, just wanted to pass on mine and my partner Becks thanks and say thank you so much for our Milly’s smiles hospital bag. My five month old baby boy Cole was rushed into Alder Hay on Sunday with suspected leukaemia, he has been diagnosed with A.L.L and is having his lumber puncture and first bit of chemo today.
We were given the bag on Monday and all the things in it are beautiful especially the blanket….it’s Cole’s and his mum fav thing so it’s a battle as to who gets it first at the minute.
We can’t thank you enough it’s a wonderful thing that you do.
Anyway hope this puts as big a smile on your face as Milly’s Bag did on ours”
It is always heartwarming to hear first hand how much we help at such a difficult frightening time. We are so proud and humbled to be able to do this in Milly’s name. Sending love and strength to Cole and his family.
Categories
News

Charlotte raises money on her 12th Birthday

After her friend Frances received one of our Milly Bags when she was admitted onto Ward 3B at Alder Hey, Charlotte decided she wanted to raise money on her behalf for us.
 
So on her 12th Birthday Charlotte walked an amazing 12 miles for Milly’s Smiles, we thing this is absolutely incredible and we love that Frances was able to meet Charlotte at the end of her walk to tell her well done.
 
We were overwhelmed with Charlotte’s achievement, and we send a massive thank you Charlotte, her family and everyone who has supported her in raising a wonderful £680. Thank you and Happy Birthday Charlotte , we think you are wonderful.
Categories
News

We are heading down South!

When we found out that Milly had relapsed and the leukaemia was back, we went to London for a short break before starting the gruelling chemotherapy treatement again.
Milly absolutely loved London and I remember her telling me that she was going to live there one day.
Sadly that can’t ever happen, however when we received a call from The Royal London Hospital asking if we could support their newly diagnosed families with our Milly Bags, I knew that Milly would want this!
So after several weeks of preparation 25 Milly Bags were collected today for delivery to Ward 7D at The Children’s Hospital which is part of The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London.
We are very proud that we are in the position to support another hospital and it warms my heart that it is somewhere Milly knew.
We are hoping that our Milly Bags will make a difference to all the newly diagnosed families admitted onto Ward 7D in supporting them at the start of their difficult journey.
Categories
News

The sun shines on our delivery team as they head to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital

The sun has been shining on our delivery team today as they headed over to Liverpool to take our Milly Bags to Ward 3B.
This is our first delivery of 2021 to Alder Hey and takes our total number of Milly Bags provided to the ward to 193.
It is always an honour and privilege to support newly diagnosed families and we thank each and everyone involved in allowing us to make such a difference every day.
Categories
News

First visit of the year to Ward L31 – Leeds Children’s Hospital

On 17 February it was all hands on deck at Milly’s Smiles HQ (maintaining social distance) to load up our volunteers car with 20 Milly Bags bound for Ward L31 at Leeds Children’s Hospital.
It is always so lovely to be able to take our Milly Bags in person to the hospitals, we love to meet the staff and whilst it is heartwarming to hear how much they appreciate our bags, we also know how lucky we are to have the hospital staff’s support, in allowing us to provide Milly Bags for their newly diagnosed families.
It is definately a team effort, and we couldn’t do it without the help and support of so many people in so many ways.
We are so proud to be able to make such a difference to newly diagnosed families every day.  
Categories
News

Amazing generosity in the darkest of times

Last week we were were lucky to meet Ward 84 mum Rosie, who came to drop off a donation of £1,000 that has been raised in memory of her grandma.
Rosie’s daughter, Emma was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia when she was only a few months old, and they were imediately admitted onto Ward 84 and given of our Milly Bags.
Rosie has supported Milly’s Smiles previously when her school raised money last year for us, and she knew that she wanted to continue with that support, so asked for donations to our charity in memory of her grandma.
After raising such an amazing amount Rosie told us that ‘there has been amazing generosity in the darkest of times’.
We feel very humbled by the kindness shown by everyone who has donated and send our love and very kindest wishes to all the family.
Categories
News

Generous donation from Blackburn Chemicals Holdings Ltd

Last week we received a wonderful letter from local firm Blackburn Chemicals Holdings Ltd.
The company are world leaders in the development and manufacture of foam control agents, and employ 75 people in their factory in Blackburn.
The family run business founded by George Lamb in 1972, told us how impressed they are with the good work that we do in supporting families of children newly diagnosed with cancer.
Blackburn Chemicals Holdings also made a very generous donation of £10,000 to allow us to continue with our work.
To say we were overwhelmed is a huge understatement, this is phenomenal, and will make such a huge difference to Milly’s Smiles.
Receiving support from a prestigious local company is wonderful, and we are so very grateful and thankful for their kindness and support.
Categories
News

Fundraising from Ward 84 mum Rachel raises £1087.60

After her daughter was admitted onto Ward 84, mum Rachel has been fundraising for Milly’s Smiles.
Lorayah was diagnosed with leukaemia in September 2019, and when she received her Milly Bag,  Rachel told us that it ‘made her smile on her darkest day’.
Rachel has been busy organising a raffle with some tremendous prizes and a cake sale which saw British Bake Off being given a run for their money.
We are so very grateful for all this amazing support, it always warms our heart when families want to support us.
The amount that has been raised is wonderful and will make such a huge difference to us, massive thank you to Rachel and everyone who supported her.
We send lots of love to Lorayah and all her family for her ongoing treatment.
Categories
News

Since losing Milly, people have treated me differently…

Since losing Milly people have treated me differently, many have not known what to say to me, people cross over the road to avoid me or they dive down another aisle at the supermarket in an attempt to avoid speaking to me.
I understand this and accept it because knowing what to say is so hard, I know people don’t want to upset me and worry if they mention Milly that will happen.
Grief is something that is not understood or talked about by many people, yet apart from birth, death is the only other thing in life that is totally guaranteed…… death and grief ultimately travel hand in hand.
Milly’s School – St Augustine’s RC High School got it right, from the moment Milly should have attended school as a year 7 pupil in September 2015 they have been supportive and kind, initially with her diagnosis and treatment, and then with her being taken to heaven.
Her form tutor told me that he considered Milly as much a part of his year as everyone else.
The school gave support in so many ways; allowing us to have Milly’s bench there for her friends to gather, acknowledging her anniversary every year giving love and support to her friends and to me as Milly’s mum. They supported her charity raising money and arranging toothbrush collections for us, along with a host of other things.
The school totally got it right and this warms my heart and fills me with love.
Finally as her classmates prepared to leave school and make their way forward in the world Milly was included, her name is on the leavers hoodie, which I wear on her behalf with pride and her picture is included in the leavers book along with her classmates.
Never be afraid to talk to someone about their child, or to include their child, especially at this time of year. Seeing Milly’s name on Christmas cards to me is getting it right, remembering to mention her is important, even if all you say is ‘I don’t know what to say but I am thinking of you’…. as bereaved grieving parents, it’s all we need to hear.