Most cancers survivor takes toys to youngsters on hospital ward that cared for her
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teenager has given again to the hospital ward which cared for her as she battled leukaemia by offering sufferers with lots of of toys.
Thirteen-year-old Rhea Oke was identified with leukaemia when she was six and spent “long periods” on Epsom Hospital’s Casey Ward, typically in isolation because of her sickness.
As employees would do their finest to maintain her entertained by way of bins stuffed with toys and actions, Rhea determined to repay the sort gesture to mark 5 years since ending her remedy.
Alongside her mom Carley, Rhea arrange a web based wishlist and thru selling it on social media, 270 items have been donated by household, pals and strangers.
“I really wasn’t expecting to get as many donations as this – I was aiming for about 100, and was really shocked. I’d like to say thank you to everyone who donated,” the 13-year-old from Carshalton, in south London, mentioned.
“I thought about the toys that I would like or that I have played with.
“I’ve been here myself, so I know what it’s like.”
Rhea’s mom added that she is “very proud” of her efforts.
“It was a difficult period after Rhea was diagnosed and we spent a lot of time on the ward,” she mentioned.
“We got to know everyone quite well – in fact, we probably spent more time with a lot of them than we did our own family! Everyone was really nice and did their best to keep Rhea entertained and happy.
“Because she was here so often, Rhea always used to say Room 5 was her bedroom, and the last time she was here she even noticed how her ‘bedroom’ had been decorated!”
Children present process chemotherapy can’t use toys or actions within the hospital playroom as a result of danger of an infection, as a substitute requiring new and unopened gadgets, which Rhea’s concept lent itself to fittingly.
Lucy Lloyd-James, lead nurse for Epsom and St Helier’s paediatric oncology shared care unit, mentioned: “I’ve known Rhea for years, ever since she was diagnosed, and it’s brilliant to see her doing so well now. It’s why we do the jobs we do.
“I honestly can’t thank Rhea enough. The effort she has put in is phenomenal and she has really thought about what other children would like to see and what they will benefit from.
“Thanks to Rhea, we will hopefully be able to make their experiences just a bit more positive.”
In 2020 – earlier than the pandemic – Rhea additionally donated roughly 70 gadgets to the ward.
Epsom and St Helier’s Charity has an Amazon wishlist for youngsters being cared for at Epsom Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children.
The Epsom Hospital wishlist might be discovered right here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/26BI08G5BGCQE?ref_=wl_fv_le
The Queen Mary’s wishlist might be accessed right here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2TF7JYVWCYQAL?ref_=wl_fv_le