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Creative Therapies Support Group

Our candle making day for bereaved families was enjoyed by all who attended. We had a mix of mums, grandparents, aunties and brothers and sisters. The group very quickly bonded over coffee and biscuits and the whole day was very natural, with people talking about their children and sharing experiences.

There is a common feeling amongst bereaved parents that those around them cannot truly understand the depth of their grief, only those who have been through it themselves can possibly know the extent of their suffering.

By bringing families together to undertake various creative therapies we aim to provide understanding, comfort, friendship, support and hope. It feels after our first session that this is very much underway.

Our next session is on Sunday 2 July at 2pm, where we will be creating fairy houses. The afternoon is open to anyone who has lost a child and is totally free to attend.

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Alder Hey receives a further 20 Milly Bags

20 Milly Bags have been safely delivered onto Ward 3B at Alder Hey today by our driver Graeme.

We have been supporting Alder Hey for almost 4 years, and we have helped 345 families during what is one of the worst times of their lives.

We never ask or expect feedback from families, its the last thing on their mind, however it does totally warm our hearts when we do get a messaage or two.

Its a strange time when making up our Milly Bags, I often think about the families that one day will have to open this bag, and that really saddens me.

I truly wish there was no need for any of our Milly Bags. Sadly there is, and as long as there is we will continue to support newly diagnosed families in Milly’s memory.

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800th Bag arrives on Ward 86

We made our second delivery of the year to Ward 86 at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital today.

Graeme and John safely delivered 20 Milly Bags taking our total to 800 bags since March 2016.

Thank you so much to everyone who continues to generously donate, fundraise and give their time up so selflessly for us.

Together we make a difference every single day.

Upon their return to Great Harwood, Graeme and John enjoyed a well deserved cup cake!

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They had nothing with them at all!

We are always so grateful to people who fundraise for us. However, there are occasions where we are unaware of what people are doing to raise money, until the payment arrives. As as soon as that happens we will get in touch with the fundrasier straight away.

That was the case recently with Kirsten, and she sent us a lovely email about her reasons for choosing Milly’s Smiles …..

“I completed the fundraiser mentioned in your email because my niece had been diagnosed with leukaemia and received one of your Milly Bags.

She and my sister-in-law had been flown over from the Isle of Man for diagnosis, she was five and still in her school uniform.

They had nothing with them at all as they had no idea of the twists and turns that were coming their way that day.

Receiving a Milly Bag was so significant for them because it gave them things that were theirs in an unfamiliar and terrifying situation.

Not only things, but incredibly useful, thoughtful and comforting things which became invaluable to them.

She still uses it when she travels for treatment almost a year on.

While I am so wholeheartedly sorry for what happened to your beautiful daughter, what you are doing in her memory is absolutely magical.

Myself and my loved ones cannot thank you enough for the incredible work you do supporting families facing this turmoil.

As the anniversary of my niece’s diagnosis approaches, I fully intend to do another fundraiser for your wonderful charity and hope to fund at least another Milly Bag- fingers crossed!”

Receiving messages like this cannot be underestimated, to hear that we are helping newly diagnosed families during a horrendous frightening time is exactly why we do what we do.

Milly is making a difference every day to children and their families.

I hope that she is watching over with pride and love.

They that love beyond the world,

Cannot be separated by it.

Death cannot kill what never dies (William Penn)

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News SOULS

Support for Bereaved Parents

“A wife who loses a husband is called a widow. A husband who loses a wife is called a widower. A child who loses his parents is called an orphan. But….there is no word for a parent who loses a child, that’s how awful the loss is” Neugeboren 1976

All bereaved parents want to remember and honour their children, but not everyone finds it possible to talk.   Talking can be too painful, too raw, and there is nothing anyone can do or say can that can take away the pain of losing a child.

Research has shown that doing a creative activity can put you at ease and can be a helpful way to communicate, especially if you find it difficult to explain how you are feeling or what you are going through.  It may also help to process traumatic experiences which are often stored non-verbally within the brain.

In our local area there are significant gaps in support networks for bereaved families and Milly’s Smiles would like to help with this.  We are inviting bereaved parents to come together on a monthly basis to meet other parents who understand the pain of grief in losing a child.

Being with other bereaved parents means we can talk to them and they fully understand how we are feeling, they don’t have to pretend or imagine, because they know!

This real support is wonderful, an invisible bond, a connection with people who have suffered the same loss. Just to be able to talk, cry, laugh or, just say nothing to someone who has been there, who knows what is going through your mind, who has walked in your shoes.

Our first meeting is on Sunday 28th May, at Milly’s Smiles Unit, we are having a relaxed informal candle making afternoon, there is no charge and refreshments are provided.

We would love to meet you, please get in touch for further information and to book a place with us

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Theodore takes on an incredible challenge at just 7 years of age!

At the age of 4, Theodore was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer and was treated on Ward 84, where he received fifteen rounds of chemo. 

Arriving at The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital meant Theodore and his family were 100 miles from their home. Mum Korinne told us “I cannot express how grateful we were to receive one of your bags with all the essentials to keep Theodore comfortable during his stay.” 

Theodore is now 7 and thriving, he is an active and athletic young boy and has expressed the desire to accomplish a Swim Run this year with his mum’s support.

The family live in the Lake District and there is a challenge called the Tadpole Round, which comprises of a 10km fell run and 700m open water swim across two of the lakes. Theodore has decided this is a brilliant challenge to take on for Milly’s Smiles, and a way to say thank you for their help, during such a difficult time. 

The Tadpole Round covers a distance of just under under 7 miles and the route itself has a total ascent of 795ft with a maximum elevation of 937ft. The start point is at the shingle beach to the North of Hause Point and the first leg is a swim across Crummock Water to Low Ling Crag. 

Next it’s along the shores of Crummock and Buttermere to Horse Close, then a swim across Buttermere to Hassness.

Finally, a run along the shore of Buttermere, through the village, up and through Rannerdale and back to the start. 

We are in complete awe of Theodore and this incredible challenge. We wish him lots of luck, and look forward to hearing how he does.

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Grace loves her rainbow elephant

We received a lovely thank you message from Grace and her mum and dad today. Grace has recently received a Milly Bag and told us her favourite item was the rainbow elephant!

We think Grace looks beautiful in her hat and we send all our love throughout her treatment.

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So much more than a Bag!

So much more than just a bag!

We recently received these lovely photos of Oliver and his parents in their Milly hats – mum told us that we have given them all a big smile during a very worrying time.

Mum also mentioned that Oliver and dad were shopping in Aldi recently when they were approached by another family who recognised the hats.

Their daughter was also having treatment and had received a Milly Bag.

They family stopped to talk about how treatment was going, sharing a common bond.

Our bags provide a sense of community to families, they recognise each other even away from the hospital giving them opportunity to build friendships and support networks.

Milly’s Smiles making a difference every day!

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The Kidds Bag Packing

We had some special guest at our unit recently, Ward 84/86 family Jonny, Katie, Joey and Dexter Kidd came along to do some packing of Milly Bags.

I first met the Kidds when their son Dexter was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2015, we met in the parents room on the ward, shortly after Dexter had been admitted onto the ward.

Since then, Jonny and his family have been valued supporters of Milly’s Smiles, and in 2021 we were thrilled to have Joey and Dexter cut the ribbon to open our new unit.

It was lovely to welcome them back to the unit, they all did an amazing job of packing our bags, and it was exciting to show them the improvements we have made over the last few year.

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Pennine Barrier 50 mile ultra marathon!

Last weekend was the Pennine Barrier 50 mile Ultra Marathon. Not for the faint hearted, I am sure you will agree.

One person not phased by such a challenge was Danny Cambell. After learning about Milly’s Smiles following one of our awareness sessions at Tesco Superstore in Great Harwood, Danny wanted to take on something that would not only challenge him personally, but would allow him support Milly’s Smiles and the work that we do.

So Danny signed up for this tough challenge and began his rigorous training schedule.

On the day the 50 mile run consists of a 2593m ascent and fuses together some of the finest trails in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Danny joined 349 other runners at the starting point in Malham, and the run took him to Malham Cove, the Dry Valley of Watlowes, Malham Tarn, Fountains Fell, Janet’s Foss and the wonderful Yorkshire 3 peaks of Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough.

Afterwards Danny told us “50 miles in the bag, by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and made that little bit harder by injuring my knee tendons at mile 8, meaning no downhill running, not good in a mountain race!

I was pushed to the limits on the remaining 42 miles but the support, kind words and donations really helped spur me on, so thank you to everyone”

We can’t thank Danny enough for his support and dedication in taking on this brilliant challenge and raising an amazing £685 for Milly’s Smiles.