When it seems impossible to think of anything else other than COVID-19, a heart-breaking tragedy for a well loved and respected team member at Orchard House Care Home brought everyone together to embrace and support their much beloved friend and colleague.
If you know of the Residential Dementia and Nursing home in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, then you know that they are renowned for their fun initiatives and activities, fundraising, their community spirt and above all their love of family. Whether you’ve worked at the home for six minutes or six years, once you’ve joined the Orchard House Team, you are part of the family!
So when Egle, one of the home’s nurses, gave birth to a little boy born sleeping named Adas earlier this spring, everyone was devasted for Egle and her family. During moments like this, many feel helpless and everyone at the home wanted to support Egle and her family to help in any way they could.
Without hesitation, Egle knew she wanted to do something to show her appreciation to the staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, in memory of her son. “I wanted to say thank you to the amazing staff, I wanted to say it in more than just in words. I spoke with Foetal Medicines and Bereavement Midwife Sharon Younge and asked if there was anything I could do, that is when she told me about their campaign to build a Maternity Bereavement Suite.”
The idea of the Bereavement Suite is to provide a dedicated and welcoming place for families who sadly lose their babies either during or shortly after birth, and give them the opportunity to create precious memories. “I’d experienced what it was like to not have my baby, but still be able to hear all the other new-born babies in the same ward as me – I knew how other families would feel and wanted to do all I could to support their fundraising in the hope that the facility would be a comfort.”- Egle
At first Egle only told her family and friends about the campaign who all came together and started fundraising. When Egle returned to work, she spoke with the home’s Registered Manager Maxine Bain who immediately responded with, “What can we do, how can we help?”
The Orchard House Family sprang into action suggesting ideas on how they could fundraise as well. The firm favourite was to have a Fun Day which would bring everyone together (staff and residents alike) to help raise as much money as possible in memory of Adas.
On the actual day, the sun shone and even though socially distanced, everyone enjoyed the music, food and refreshments, games, raffles and an auction, “This was the main event of the day. As well as lots from staff and families, we were also kindly donated numerous hampers and gift vouchers from various companies to help us – we’ve had great support from our local community.” Kayleigh, Orchard House Administrator
When all of the donations were totalled up, they had raised over a staggering £1,500 for the Bereavement Suite and far surpassed their original fund-raising target of £1,000. The amount increased even further when RCH Care Homes, the care provider under which Orchard House Care Home belongs to, donated an additional £500, resulting in an amazing total of over £2,000.
Egle and her family recently presented the cheque to the Queen Elizabeth team who were blown away by the substantial donation raised by Egle, her family and Orchard House.
“I couldn’t believe the amount of money that was raised in memory of my son Adas. There are no words to say what it has meant. I have been a part of Orchard House for six years and they are like another family to me”.
