Giving kids and their families a respite
A NEW transport service is giving families with children who have life-threatening illness the chance to access respite care.
Road to Respite is a joint initiative of Very Special Kids and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The service, which is being officially launched in Melbourne today, provides kids with life-threatening conditions transport to the Very Special Kids Hospice in Melbourne.
The Bell family, who live in Geelong, were recently able to enjoy a well-earned break thanks to the new service.
Much-loved 13-year-old daughter Alivia cannot walk or talk. She was born with Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder, and requires 24-hour care for all her basic needs.
Her mother, Fiona Bell, said travelling with Alivia could be difficult because of her high needs.
The family trialled the Road to Respite service for the first time in January.
Alivia was picked up by the van the morning her family headed to Byron Bay for a well-earned break.
“Alivia went for her holiday at Very Special Kids and it allowed us to go on our holiday where we could regroup and have a breather,” Mrs Bell said. “Having Liv picked up certainly took away a lot of stress and it felt like more of a holiday because we didn’t have to worry.”
Mrs Bell said the family would “absolutely” use the service again.
Over a two-year pilot program, the Road to Respite van, donated by Ambulance Victoria, will transport children to Victoria’s only children’s hospice.
At Very Special Kids, they receive specialised 24-hour nursing care free of charge, giving their parents a much needed and well deserved break. The William Buckland Foundation has given more than $156,000 to the initiative.