Special visit by Julia's House Hospice patron
Author and food guru Annabel Karmel drops in at Wiltshire charity
Bestselling author and children’s nutritionist Annabel Karmel has paid a visit to the Julia’s House children’s hospice building in Devizes where she met some of the families cared for by the charity.
The hospice provides free and regular specialist support for a growing number of local families who're caring for seriously ill children with life-limiting or life-shortening conditions.
Annabel is a Patron and long-standing supporter of Julia's House. She knows personally how important the end of life care provided by Julia’s House is for families. Annabel’s infant daughter, Natasha, died of encephalitis after developing a viral infection when she was just three months old.
Speaking about the tragedy, Annabel said:
“My daughter died in hospital, but I would have liked to have had somewhere like the Julia’s House children’s hospice to come and take her,” Annabel said. “In those times when you feel so desperate, to have a room where you can be with your child when they’re coming to the end of their life and to spend time by a memorial fountain like this one here – it would have been very comforting."
“They are very special moments in your life that you’ll never forget. Horrible moments, but at the same time the last memories you have of your child,” she said. “So I think what Julia’s House and their nurses and carers offer here is amazing.”
It wasn't just Annabel who popped-in at Julia's House, she also brought her three dogs – Skye, Bono and Pushkin – to meet youngsters, Carmela Chillery-Watson and Kyle Truman.
The children’s food guru also shared some homemade chocolate chip cookies, made from a recipe in her new Fun, Fast & Easy Children’s Cookbook.
Carmela, from Market Lavington, loved taking Skye for a walk around the accessible hospice garden and enjoyed Annabel’s cookies, commenting they were “yummy!” The eight-year-old has a rare and heart-breaking form of muscular dystrophy, affecting just one child in a million, which causes her muscles to waste away over time.
Annabel also added:
“It was lovely to meet Carmela and Kyle, and explore all the facilities and garden here. I was involved in fundraising for the hospice when it was first built around five years ago, so it’s brilliant to see how it’s being used today. It’s such a happy and wonderful place for families to come.”
Julia’s House Chief Executive, Martin Edwards, said:
“I first met Annabel in 2012 when she presented the Healthcare Charity of the Year national award to Julia’s House. She has been a wonderful Patron and supporter for Julia’s House ever since and it was a pleasure to show her around the hospice and introduce her to some of the children and to our team.
“As a charity we receive just eight per cent ongoing Government funding, so we’re incredibly grateful to our Patrons for helping to raise awareness and to the public for sustaining our lifeline of care for the most seriously ill children and their families.”