Romilly’s Story: Bringing Medical Daycare an early Christmas present

Five-year-old Romilly brought 250 new toys to refill their treat box so patients coming for tests and treatment can take something nice away from their appointment.

 

Her mum, Kira said: “Romilly started going to Sheffield Children’s when she was two. We visited Gastroenterology first because Romilly has an auto inflammatory condition which means it can cause pain for her to eat solid foods and her body can’t absorb the nutrients it needs from it.”

 

Around a year ago, Romilly began immunosuppressant therapy, which involved weekly blood tests. These had scared her for some time but Medical Daycare were able to carry these out in a calmer environment to what Romilly was used to.

 

Kira added: “The nurse who did it, Martha, was amazing. She was so calm throughout and afterwards Romilly got a little treat and Martha said ‘you can come here for your tests, we’ll work together and make it easier’. Now Romilly wants to go so she can see Martha!”

 

On her most recent appointment, Romilly needed a number of different tests which means more blood needed to be taken for them to be carried out. She was brilliant while this happened – but unfortunately the treat box had run out!

 

Kira said: “I said we’ll get something from the Charity shop and bring them something back next time. Romilly likes to keep all of the stickers they’ve given her over the visits so we decided we would make some new ones of those too. She’s also started a new collection to give after Christmas.

 

“The entire hospital is so brilliant – it makes the world of difference having a specialist place like this for children. She enjoys little things like counting the Theo stickers on the floor.”