Thank you for requesting your Little Bag of Sunshine!
There are 99,000 seriously ill children in the UK*
Thank you for sharing in our belief that each and every one of them deserves happiness and rays of sunshine in their lives.
By wearing your bag and showing your support, you are helping to create more moments of sunshine for seriously ill children cared for by Helen & Douglas House.
For more details, visit our Little Bag of Sunshine campaign page.
*Together for Short Lives
Meet Nathan, the designer of your tote bag!
A decade of support
Nathan was born in 2011 and was diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome shortly after birth. This rare genetic condition is severely life-limiting and causes medical complications including low muscle tone, insatiable appetite, severe balance issues and narcolepsy. This means that Nathan requires 24/7 care.
Helen & Douglas House has supported Nathan since he was just one year old and he comes to the hospice regularly. For over a decade, Helen & Douglas House has been an important part of Nathan’s life, offering more than just medical care. We have provided a place where Nathan can truly be himself, surrounded by a community that understands and supports him and his family.
Overcoming critical health challenges
In 2023, Nathan became extremely ill. He had a perforated bowel, which led to sepsis shock and cardiac arrest. His family were told that he wouldn’t make it and to say goodbye to him. He was taken by ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, and then operated on immediately.
Nathan had nine washout surgeries and a tracheostomy. He was so weak he couldn’t get off the ventilator. They also struggled to get the right antibiotics to battle the sepsis infection.
Jenny, Nathan’s mum said: “Things were bad. The worst they could have been.”
“The first call I made was to Helen & Douglas House. They were there from day one. Explaining things when I couldn’t understand, for a hug when we were low, for pain management after his long stay in intensive care and reassurance when we had to make hard decisions. We planned discharge to Helen & Douglas House so I could rest and get ready for the long road ahead. From food packages to a shoulder to cry on, they were there every step of the way. I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Nathan survived and recovered from his surgeries and is now back to his cheeky self.
More than just medical care
Despite his medical challenges, Nathan is a happy boy with lots of sunshine in his life. His visits to the hospice are filled with activities he loves, such as spending time in the therapeutic pool, baking and singing. Nothing stops him from trying almost anything and his family and the hospice staff give him opportunities to achieve as much as possible.
Nathan says – “I love everything about Helen & Douglas House, especially cooking. It’s nice to have a break from mummy. I have so much fun!”