When my baby was born, she let out a cry. That was the first and only time I have ever heard her voice.

Dai-Shanelle is only four-years-old and she has been through so much, she has had seven cardiac arrests and many respiratory arrests. Once I had to bring her back to life, something no parent should ever have to do. I had done the training but no matter how much you prepare, nothing prepares you for that.

Can you help children, like Dai-Shanelle, this Christmas?

 

 

Dai-Shanelle’s story:

Dai-Shanelle lives with chronic lung disease and is at risk of dying every day. We never know if there is going to be a tomorrow, which as you can imagine, is heartbreaking. Thanks to Rainbows we have somewhere to go that gives us a sense of peace from the chaos of life, medicines and appointments. But Rainbows need your support today to help even more families like ours.

Discovering Rainbows three years ago really was life changing for me and my children – it made a big difference on everything for all of us. If Rainbows wasn’t there, it would be devastating. I imply couldn’t imagine it at all, and I can’t express it in words. And this isn’t just for my family. I am not the only
parent who can say that Rainbows is the one place we can easily take our children to.

Will you give a donation today to help even more families like mine receive care and support from Rainbows this Christmas?

Donate to help children like Dai-Shanelle

Our story began when Dai-Shanelle was born at 25 weeks and had a collapsed lung. It was terrifying. I held her for a few seconds and she was whisked away. When I met her properly 90 minutes later, she was intubated with tubes. It was a huge shock.

I spent a long time not knowing what was wrong with her before being given a diagnosis. After four months of being intubated, her throat had suffered so much damage, the tubes had not allowed her throat to develop and it had closed. She now has a tracheostomy.

As well as the chronic lung disease, Dai-Shanelle’s life is made more complicated as she has Global Development Delay and bowel problems. But this is our situation, and it is something we live with every day.

In the early days when she was very ill, I was very uncomfortable with Dai-Shanelle going anywhere that wasn’t with me, but then I discovered Rainbows and I am so thankful I did.

In the big wide world, Dai-Shanelle is a minority when it comes to her disability, but at Rainbows, she is one of the beautiful children who all share something in common. It is somewhere where people don’t stare at her, somewhere where people understand.

We simply can’t do the normal things most children do because it is too risky. But at Rainbows we can. At Rainbows Dai-Shanelle is able to go swimming, enjoy soft play and play in the outdoor playground. This means more to us than most people know, and this is why your donations make such a difference to the children Rainbows supports.

Because of Rainbows, Dai-Shanelle has learnt so much about herself. I have learnt so much about her too. Without Rainbows I would never have known she loves Play-Doh and other toys she plays with there.

It is the only place where we can go and be away from everything. Dai-Shanelle and her siblings all love Rainbows. There, we have a sense of peace, I just can’t express it in words but this last three years, with Rainbows in our lives, it has made a big difference on everything and that is because of you.

I have to be very careful where I take Dai-Shanelle as she doesn’t have a sense of danger and although she can’t walk far because of her lung condition, she is very quick. There are so many things she can do at Rainbows where I feel she is safe. And she absolutely loves it there. At the Hospice, I trust the staff with everything, absolutely everything.

Everyone is so friendly and professional, and the nursing care is incredible. I get a real rest; you can’t imagine how much it means for me to not have to cook or to just get a full night’s sleep.

Dai-Shanelle has a lot of surgery to come, and we don’t know anything on her life prospects, but all that matters is she is safe. It feels so comforting knowing we have Rainbows and knowing someone is always there. I love Rainbows just as much as she does.

My family sees how incredible your generosity is and how life-changing your support has been for our family. You help to make care for children like Dai-Shanelle possible. I hope you’ll consider donating today as I know with your continued support, Rainbows can help so many other children like my incredible daughter.

Help us to reach more families, donate this Christmas