Anna's hope Children's Nurse Specialist

12 December 2008

Children suffering from brain tumours are to have improved care at Addenbrooke’s, thanks to the young people’s cancer charity Anna’s Hope. The charity, set up following the death of Anna Hughes from a brain tumour at the age of three, has donated £150,000 to provide additional care with the appointment of a Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Nurse Specialist for three years.

The newly appointed nurse specialist, Alison Mitchell, is based on Ward C2, the children’s oncology ward at Addenbrooke’s. She will provide a crucial and key role in co-ordinating the treatment, rehabilitation and support for children diagnosed with a brain tumour and their families. The consequence of a brain tumour and its treatment on the brain, can be during treatment and for the rest of their lives. Alison will work alongside Sharon (Harry) Taylor who was Anna’s nurse during her treatment and is also the inspiration behind the charity’s aim. They will work closely with the Consultant Paediatric Oncologists and the Consultant Neuro Surgeons.

Rob Hughes, Anna’s father and chairman of Anna’s Hope said: “Anna’s nurse Harry was with us through every gruelling step of her 15 month illness. She worked tirelessly to find a speech therapist when Anna lost her swallow, coordinated an optician to correct Anna’s sight and she helped explain to the school and the school children why Anna had no hair and why she had a tube in her nose. She was also there during Anna’s final days coordinating the local doctors and nurses so that Anna could be with her mummy, daddy and sister Sara without pain at home.”

Many people have helped support the Stamford based charity,  Anna’s Hope, over the past two years to raise the money by undertaking various fundraising activities such as jumping out of aeroplanes, running a marathon in Kandahar in Afghanistan, and cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats. Additionally, golf clubs, schools, garden centres, shops, hotels and businesses local to Anna’s Hope, along with the members of the public, have given the charity tremendous support.

Anna’s parents, Rob and Carole (pictured left with nurse Alison), said: “When Anna died, we were determined that something positive should come out of our own personal tragedy. Anna’s nurse was such a tower of strength to us throughout her illness. “Through the provision of an additional Paediatric Neuro-Oncology Nurse Specialist the support and care at hospital and more importantly at home for children and young people during and after treatment will be significantly increased.

“We are absolutely delighted to announce the appointment of the Anna’s Hope nurse today and would like to thank each and every person who has helped us fundraise over the last two years to make this possible. The Anna’s Hope nurse would not exist without the generosity of the local community. More than £150,000 has been raised to fund this post and the charity has been truly amazed by the support it has had.

“On behalf of Anna’s Hope we want to thank everyone for helping us make a difference and give hope to children and young people diagnosed with a brain tumour.”

Dr Denise Williams, Clinical Director of Children’s Services at Addenbrooke’s, said: “Everyone at Addenbrooke’s Hospital would like to thank Rob and Carole Hughes and everyone involved in this fantastic Anna’s Hope fundraising. This has allowed us to appoint a second specialist nurse to look after children with brain tumours in the region.  We know that this will make a real difference to the coordination of care and support for families at every stage of treatment.”

More information about Anna’s Hope can be found at www.annashope.co.uk