Because of Rainbow House, we were there when our daughter woke up

Just before Christmas last year, my daughter Hannah, 4, was really poorly with pneumonia.

Initially, Hannah was being treated in Luton and Dunstable Hospital, not far from where we live Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. But as the day went on, Hannah’s condition deteriorated. Despite being fit and healthy, her case of pneumonia was severe and wasn’t responding to the medication, which we were told is incredibly rare.

Three days later, Hannah needed transferring to Great Ormond Street Hospital. Hannah was immediately put into the PICU – the Intensive Care unit – at GOSH. It was an extremely frantic and worrying time for us. Our little girl was just so poorly, and we also had to be away from our little boy so that we could be by her side.

We weren’t sure what would happen. Where would we stay? What would we do for food? How long would Hannah be in for? So many questions raced through my head, it was overwhelming.

Fortunately, we found out about The Sick Children’s Trust’s ‘Home from Home’ scheme through the patient advice and liaison services and were offered a room at Rainbow House, just around the corner from GOSH.

Staying in the house was a massive relief to us physically, emotionally and financially. We could just concentrate on being there for Hannah and not worry about the practicalities.

The house was fantastic. It was modern, clean and it gave us somewhere to rest our heads. It also helped reassure our family back home as our son was staying with his grandparents, so it gave them peace of mind knowing that we could get some proper rest and if needed, he could always visit.

We also found it helpful having other parents staying in the house. We talked quite a bit to a couple whose daughter was also in PICU with a similar condition to Hannah's. It was helpful to chat in the kitchen to someone who wasn’t as emotionally close to the situation but completely understood it.

What’s more, it was comforting to know that the ward had a direct line to our room especially at night – a line that would never be engaged. Luckily, it wasn't used in our case.

Hannah was unconscious for the majority of her stay in GOSH, but when she finally woke up, we were there, right by her side. Whether that would have been possible without the help of The Sick Children’s Trust, I’m not quite sure, but being within a few feet of her was great for us, and I believe it definitely helped Hannah’s recovery – I think she could sense we were there.

We can’t thank The Sick Children’s Trust enough for the support they gave us over that fortnight; it really helped having a private and comfortable space away from the ward. The situation was made a little bit easier by the House Manager, Sandra, who was extremely helpful and kind – nothing was too much trouble. Although sometimes you didn’t want to talk too much, when you did Sandra would lend a sympathetic ear.

Hannah is now fit and well, although she will be monitored by the respiratory team at Luton and Dunstable hospital for a long time to come. But the hardest part is now out of the way and we are looking to the future.