Magical Moments You Make:
First-Ever Tracheostomy Camp!
Children can have narrowed or blocked upper airways for many reasons. And sometimes they need an artificial airway at the base of their neck, called a tracheostomy. These airways help them to breathe but need a lot of care and can isolate children and their families when they need connection most. With the help of your support for Barretstown, that’s starting to change…
When passionate nurses talk, magical moments happen. So it was when Siobhán, Barretstown’s Head Nurse, and her Crumlin colleague Róisín had a heartfelt conversation about children with tracheostomies – and the magic you make happen at Barretstown. “Róisín was talking about how great her tracheostomy families are, and I was talking about how great Barretstown is, and I just felt like I had to try and do something. So I spoke with Barretstown’s leadership team and very quickly our CEO, Dee Ahearn, said, ‘What about a special care camp for families midweek?’”
Finding a way thanks to you and so thanks to you, for the first time ever, the first-ever tracheostomy camps at Barretstown were born. Ten families with little ones who have tracheostomies, plus half a dozen incredible specialist Crumlin nurses – all volunteering their time and attention – came for the midweek trach camp, with all the medical equipment needed.
“I remember one of our families had a child on a ventilator. They realised seeing the other families that there was light at the end of the tunnel – just that comfort and acceptance of being around people who understood,” adds Siobhán. “And the director of nursing from Crumlin told me she’s hearing such amazing things from her nurses.
Life is paused for families who have children with higher medical needs. They don’t go on holiday. But thanks to our generous supporters at Barretstown, we will always try to find a way to reach them.
Stay tuned for more around special care camps made possible by your love. Thank you for giving children with serious illnesses a piece of their childhood back. You’re truly magic. Learn more about the The Med Shed at Barretstown Camp here.
✨ Discover more incredible stories! Dive into our latest newsletter!