Giggle Fund for CHI at Crumlin
Each year thousands children attend CHI at Crumlin for critical care and support. The Giggle Fund aims to bring some much-needed light relief to patients in CHI at Crumlin during what can be a stressful time for both the children and their families. Clinical Nurse Manager in CHI at Crumlin is the Senior Lead for the Giggle Fund, she tells us what the Giggle Fund means to staff in the hospital “The Giggle Fund is a very versatile initiative, there are so many wonderfully creative ways to use this fund to bring a little extra to all the children and families we care for. It means that we can do the small things that mean so much for patients and their families” We hear from some of the staff in CHI at Crumlin about what the Giggle Fund means to them and the patients that they care for:
St Peter’s Infant Ward
“The giggle fund enables us to bring some joy into our little superheroes’ lives. We buy Tonie boxes and toys for all occasions such as birthdays, going home presents and just cheer-me-up presents. We recently had a birthday party for a very special boy. He turned one and had spent nearly all that first year of his life with us in hospital. Thanks to the giggle fund we could buy him a birthday present and some books. His mother’s smile and appreciation said it all. She said they would cherish the gifts forever.”
Liz Sweeney, CNM2
St. Peter’s Infant Ward
PICU
“The giggle fund is an amazing fund! It enables the PICU team to make a large positive impact on the patients and parents hospital experience. At a really difficult time in a family’s life, it brings happiness. It is a great support for families. We have been able to get presents, reward hard work that recovery can take through physio. Providing a toy to a child will assist in preventing delirium. The giggle fund has provided clothes for children who arrive in an emergency with nothing and allow us to provide a meal for parents. Thank you for the giggle fund!”
Lorraine O’Reilly,
Clinical Nurse Manager 3, PICU
St Michael’s Ward
“As a Play Specialist I have been able to use the Giggle Fund to create positive hospital experiences for the patients and families I work with on St. Michael’s Ward. From using it to purchase outdoor summer play items, sending a family to the cinema, or for celebrating birthdays the Giggle Fund helps to bring smiles to our patients faces every day. A recent example of the Giggle Fund in action was when I used it to prepare for the long-term admission of two sisters who frequently attend our ward. When I heard on a Thursday that they would be arriving in on a Saturday I used the Giggle Fund to pick up games, activities, and new teddies to have ready for them waiting on their beds when they arrived in over the weekend. The Giggle Fund, provided by the generous CHF donors, allows for us to create these small moments of joy for our patients! Access to such an amazing service goes such a long way in creating meaningful moments within the hospital for patients and families! Thank you so much to CHF and their amazing supporters!“
Emma Fratangelo, Senior Play Specialist
St. Michael’s Ward