Children's cancer ward made a brighter place

Despite the fact that it deals with young oncology patients - children who are suffering from tumours, leukaemia and other forms of cancer - the atmosphere in the Wonderland ward at St Luke's Hospital is warm and positive.

Children are fighting for their lives, but it is like "one big happy family" in Wonderland, thanks to the Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Support Group.

The group has managed to refurbish the four-bedded ward and install DVDs, videos, PlayStations and a folding bed for parents in the single rooms. They are only lacking cable TV and computers as regards equipment.

However, despite the painted walls and colourful curtains, which brighten the ward, the support group still feels more could be done. It would like to help the patients and their families throughout their suffering and from every aspect of it, both financially and emotionally.

Nurse Rennie Zerafa, who is the link between the staff and the support group and has a wonderful relationship with the patients, said most of the sponsorships were thanks to the parents, who went out of their way to get them.

The Puttinu Cares group, which is supported by the HSBC Cares for Children Fund, would also like to focus on other services, such as the provision of psychological assistance and private tuition to help patients who have missed out on schooling.

The group is working towards assisting families even in unrelated needs, said Mr Zerafa.

It would like to raise funds to cover the patients and their families throughout the illness and particularly when they are abroad for treatment. Not everyone could afford to go unpaid for three months when they accompanied their children to hospitals abroad. In some cases, both parents did not work and in most cases, mothers had to quit their jobs, Mr Zerafa pointed out.

The group, therefore, wanted to set up links with the Social Policy Ministry and other departments to help them find employment.

Agreements have already been established with Air Malta for flights to the UK, while the Community Chest Fund, the Hospice Movement and Gozo Channel Co. Ltd are among the many that help in their own ways.

Another objective is to help make the children's dreams come true.

Kristen, nine, has already undergone chemotherapy twice in six years. He was diagnosed at four and relapsed at eight. His dream is to be a soldier, or a policeman and his wish to spend a day with the Armed Forces of Malta has already been fulfilled.

Although he loves it, Kristen cannot swim again next summer, but he is willing to trade in three months at the beach for a trip to Euro Disney, which he has been given by the TV programme Tista' Tkun Int.

The group, whose president is consultant Dr Victor Calvagna, is composed of voluntary workers and parents, even of children who have already passed away.

In fact, one of the ideas is to set up a foundation for the parents of children who have lost the battle with their illness, Mr Zerafa said.

The ward has an average of one new oncology case a month. "The staff at Wonderland would like to go to each and every family that passes through the ward and see to their individual needs," he said.

"We need to end the mentality that we can rely on the government for everything. The government already gives a lot to anyone and funds treatment, which is a huge chunk of the costs. Private assistance needs to be sought and the initiative taken to raise funds and offer services as the Puttinu Cares Children's Cancer Support Group does."

He said the creation of Wonderland, which separated oncology patients from others, was an appreciated move, and meant that the cancer patients were no longer confined to their rooms in Disneyland to avoid getting an infection.

In-patients can now leave their rooms and use a fully equipped playroom. Before they could not touch the toys.

In Wonderland, sick children smile because they are waiting for presents, and the kitchenette is bursting with goodies and cakes that the parents bring over.

The move has marked an "enormous" difference, parents feel. Children are safer and, consequently, freer.

Walking into Wonderland feels like arriving home, they say. Before, the nurses had more patients to deal with, so now there is more personal contact with the parents - an important factor when trying to cope with a child's illness.

"The nurses are our friends. When we enter the ward, we forget our problems. We are inspired to help each other."

Wonderland has additional facilities, which make an already hard life easier, such as a kitchenette, where parents, some of whom come from Gozo and need to stay for a couple of weeks, can cook to cut down on expenses.

Parents have, therefore, expressed concern that a ward like Wonderland would not exist in the new hospital.

"It is a successful experiment and we hope it would be transferred to the new hospital," parents augured, although it appears that there will be one ward for children, with cancer patients at the back of it.

Mr Zerafa is considered by parents to be the mind and ideas behind the support group, but for him it is the parents who inspire and encourage.

The Puttinu Cares Support Group can only alleviate problems and never solve them, but for the parents it is "halving the pain".

Much work has been done by the Puttinu Cares group, but there is room for more. Anyone wishing to make a donation may do so in HSBC account number 61187928001.