Wednesday, June 12, 2013

How to Move a Hospital

Cate and I asked patients, staff, parents, volunteers, to suggest how the old and ailing hospital might make its restorative move across town to Little France as it’s destined to do in 2017. We’re developing the ‘things’ of the hospital into a cast of characters (see here) and some of them will certainly be involved.

Needless to say we’ve been delighted with the creative ideas offered. Several people saw the opportunity of so many bits of hospital equipment being on wheels. So we had this suggestion from 13 year old Mami:

 

And 12 year old Hannah’s combination of a ‘ginormous skateboard’ with the pushing power of all the children from Sciennes Primary School!



Megan and a group of parents and volunteers at one of our workshops imagined a great cavalcade across the south of Edinburgh of all the wheelchairs, wheeled things of the hospital, and even the idea that the hospital might be dismantled and carried brick by brick to be rebuilt into a lovely new establishment at the other end.

Evie envisaged this enormous NHS ‘Hospital Mover’:

 
While 12 year old Emma had PJ Bear driving a limo with all the other characters on board. Unfortunately it seems PJ’s sense of direction isn’t too good…



And Ava, daughter of a Friends Foundation staff member transported the hospital on a huge bed!

The important role played by seagulls and pigeons in Mami’s suggestion was backed up by another idea from Danellia involving butterflies ...
...and even the penguins arriving across town from Edinburgh Zoo to help from eight year old Charlieanne!

Other assistance came from hospital equipment – 14 year old Anna suggested that the bandages would volunteer to help:
“We’ll wrap the Hospital up tight so she doesn’t feel the bumps on the flight to Little France”.
 

Sam decided a catapult would send the building flying for three miles:

And one of the Play Service staff suggested that a child suffering from asthma might get well enough, after practice, to blow the hospital all the way to Little France! 

Some of the ideas took quite a magical turn. Rowan, a patient, saw these creatures lending a wing:

Ten year old Noah invented a time machine which could transport the Hospital across space in only two seconds ...
...while his mum saw a role for the strange duct that worms through the building and might also provide an opportunity for travel!

Another parent foresaw a torrential downpour creating a huge wave that the hospital would surf across town on with all the characters on board, transforming at the far end and making Stephanie the Stethoscope remark:
“Look at the Hospital – it’s so shiny, so new.’ 

A nurse made the lovely suggestion of a flock of angels lifting and flying with the hospital while Summer, a patient, had this idea:
 

But of course as a member of Friends Foundation staff pointed out, with the great moment of the hospital’s move and all the commotion going on, the volcano at Arthur’s Seat is bound to awake.  Perhaps its sleeping lion shape will take us by surprise with a roar, or volcanic lava will help move the hospital?

Friday, May 31, 2013

Teddy Toddle!

The Sick Kids Friends Foundation will be fundraising with small people and their furry friends on a Teddy Toddle on Saturday 15th June at Meadowbank Stadium. Cate and I will be there too, offering to draw and write personal cards in honour of best teds!  Come and say hello.

And here's a silly ditty I wrote in celebration of the event, obviously intended to be read aloud (and possibly shouted at the end!):


best bears
ready steady
gee up neddy
furry tummies
follow mummy
bears bumbling
round the ring
with Yan Guang
and Tian Tian
parading
panda-monium
PJ’s the DJ
spinning discs
for fidgets
and nitwits
walking for
Sick Kids
at Meadowbank’s
running track
what a doddle
 
TEDDY TODDLE!

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Me and my teddy bear

Favourite teddies have been a good prompt for writing and drawing in the hospital recently, both with children and with adults who have long memories. Many of the teddies come into hospital with patients who are happy to talk or write about where their cuddly friend came from as well as the most exciting place he or she has been and what she gets up to when left alone. Six year olds Eliza and Lilley made these drawings of their respective purple duck, Angeline, and ragdoll, Sophie, while they waited for surgery in the Day Case Unit.

 
Watch this space for more news about words and pictures at The Sick Kids Teddy Toddle on Saturday 16th June at Meadowbank Stadium.


Sunday, April 21, 2013

When I visit my brother...

What Hannah, aged six, would like when she's in hospital visiting her brother


When I visit my brother
I’d like my own tent
with a torch and a tablet
a notebook and pen.

It’s cosy and private
with my books and TV.
When I pull down the zip
it’s just Fizzy* and ME!

Beside it’s a garden
a see-saw and tree
that I climb up inside
with flowers beneath.

Please give me a disco
with music and lights
and colourful balloons
so it’s sparkling and bright.

A cafĂ© with ice cream,                                   
juice, biscuits and chips,
served by a chef
with a smile on her lips.

And, okay, if you say so,
there’s maybe a school
with a smart board and pens
and a teacher who’s cool.

Our black labrador Murphy’s
there with us too,
bringing Noah his slipper.
Or just having a chew?

 

*('Fizzy' is a precious white dog who wears a pink tutu)

Friday, April 12, 2013

What Happens Next?

We've already been given a few great ideas about how our characters are going to move the Hospital to Little France, from patients, staff, volunteers, parents.

Without giving away too much here are a few: PJ Bear drives them all there in a huge lorry, with the rocking horse from Ward One left to gallop alongside; the penguins and other animals from Edinburgh Zoo cross town to come and help; a flock of angels lift it up and fly with it; and a Tardis-type transport machine is the answer!

Please help us with more ideas. All the details and the story so far are to the right.

Monday, March 18, 2013

Please help with our story!

Cate and I have started a story about the move of the Hospital to Little France. All the things of the hospital - the beds, the toys, the machines and equipment - are getting worried about the age and health of their home. But they have to think of a way of helping the hospital to move. Sasha the Sats monitor (below) goes into a panic and dashes about bleeping. The others gather together to discuss the problem.

And they need your ideas - whether you're a patient, a relative, a member of staff, a neighbour, or even if you have nothing to do with the hospital, we'd love to hear and see your ideas.

To read the story, you can go to the 'Poorly Hopital' page to the right. And for instructions on how to send us your ideas in drawings or words, see the page below it. The pages can be enlarged or printed by clicking on them.

Please help! More about it all on Cate's blog here.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Valentine's Day

Cate and I had a lot of fun with the Valentine's Card we made for the Hospital, with her lovely illustration on the front and my story about Stephanie the Stethoscope on the back. (See the full story via the side bar). We gave it out throughout the wards, via Radio Lollipop and the Friends Foundation shop.

Stethoscopes are very good at listening so make good match-makers. We invited other people to make up stories about Stephanie.  Ten year old Noah had her making a match between Serena the syringe (sad because no-one likes her) and Pat the Plaster who's  a bit of a joker and believes in laughter as a way of healing. Here they are having their first date on Dave's arm - broken while doing karate. The sun even shone for them!

One or two children also made their own cards for loved ones, including this beautiful one by 10 year old Freya.

Posted by Linda