8:00am Monday 15th March 2010
By Jess Childs
SPORTS mad Andrew Evans- Fisher has many reasons to thank Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
The 12-year-old from Upper Sapey spent much of his infancy there after his kidneys were destroyed by a blocked urethral valve when he was just a day old.
His parents spent weeks at a time sleeping on temporary beds while he received treatment and eventually a transplant.
After that, he became a keen sportsman and medal winner at the national Transplant Games.
So the family’s latest visit, this time to a brand new £2.7 million unit that boasts an innovative Imagination Light Canvas and healing environment, was made with some emotion.
Mum Carol said: “The new unit looks amazing, with great facilities for families, even proper beds for parents that stow away neatly during the day, and far more for the children to do. It should make a huge difference.”
Fund-raisers from across the region and a BBC radio appeal have improved experiences for 1,500 youngsters, including those from Herefordshire, who are treated there annually.
The British Kidney Patients Association (BKPA) also donated £1 million to the cause.
Andrew, who also plays striker in his school football team and is already preparing for this summer’s Transplant Games, said: “It’s all new with lots of light and nice big windows so you can see what’s going on outside.
“The rooms feel really big and cheerful with lots of bright colours.”
Before the change Carol said everyone was doing their best in difficult circumstances but now children can watch flat screen televisions and enjoy the canvas – which allows children to play with light on an interactive touch screen – to pass the time.
BKPA chief executive Rosemary Macri said the revamp was “inspiring” and would transform a time-consuming and difficult experience for young people into something tolerable and even fun.
“Children on dialysis and families that support them need somewhere inviting to spend their time,” she said.
“People often don’t realise just how physically and mentally demanding dialysis treatment is for those who must endure it.”
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.herefordtimes.com/trade_directory/