“We never know how many Christmases we’ll have with Sienna.”
For 10-year-old Sienna, Claire House Children’s Hospice has been there for her and her family through the good times and the bad. Here Sienna’s mum, Francesca, shares how the local children’s hospice goes above and beyond for them at Christmas and all year.
“Sienna is the cheekiest little 10-year-old that you’ll ever meet,” shares Francesca.
“She can’t walk and she can’t talk but her eyes and her smile always tell everyone exactly what she needs.
“She’s a very happy, cheeky, mischievous girl. And it breaks me every time I think of Sienna’s condition because she looks a bundle of health on the outside.”
When Francesca was five months pregnant, she and her husband Kyle found out that Sienna had hypoplastic right heart syndrome. After she was born and as she grew, Sienna developed additional complex medical conditions.
“Having a child who’s terminally ill is hard work,” says Francesca.
“I can’t just ask anybody to look after my child for five minutes or to help me because they don’t know what she needs in the same way.
“But Claire House give me that relief.”
Sienna was referred to Claire House when she was seven years old.
“The nurses at Claire House became an extension of our family,” shares Francesca.
“Without them, I really don’t know what I would do.
“Looking after a child who’s terminally ill and has heart failure, I have a lot of sleepless nights. I’m scared to close my eyes some nights as I fear the worst.
“It’s the only place where I can leave Sienna and not worry, because I know she’s receiving the very best care.”
Claire House has been there for Sienna and her family through many happy and difficult times. And last December, the hospice played a crucial role in bringing Christmas magic to the family.
“Like most 10-year-old kids, Sienna loves ripping open her presents on Christmas morning,” says Francesca.
“She loves meeting Santa too, and she usually shows her cheeky side by pulling on his beard to check if it’s real.
“But last year we were given a sudden and traumatic reminder that Sienna isn’t like most kids.
“Shortly before Christmas, Sienna went into stage three heart failure and, not for the first time, we thought we were going to lose her,” shares Francesca.
“Claire House was there to help me and Sienna’s dad through the ordeal.
“One of the nurses regularly came to the hospital, to hold my hand and to give me a shoulder to cry on.
“It was the worst of times, but also being Christmas, once Sienna was out of danger, we desperately wanted to take her home.
“With the huge support of Claire House, we managed to do that just two days before Christmas.”
Over the years, Claire House has been there to help the family make treasured Christmas memories.
“We never really know how many Christmases we’ll have with Sienna, so we want to make every Christmas count. And Claire House makes that possible,” shares Francesca.
“Claire House always makes sure that Sienna lives life to the full and that we get to make special memories along the way.
“Just before Sienna’s health deteriorated and she was admitted to hospital last year, we had a wonderful time at the Claire House Christmas party.
“All her favourite characters from Frozen, such as Elsa, were there.
“They sang Christmas songs, including Sienna’s favourite ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’. And Santa arrived too, with gifts for all the kids.
“Without Claire House, a lot of the memories we’ve made wouldn’t have been possible.”
A donation to Claire House this Christmas can help the local children’s hospice to continue providing specialist nursing care to families like Sienna’s.