Father Christmas Arrives by Helicopter for Hospice Visit

Santa Claus recently visited children across the western region, specifically including those receiving care at Children’s Hospice South West. Assisted by the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, he journeyed to primary schools in Dorset and Somerset to gather Christmas letters from students. During his stop at Charlton Farm in Wraxall, the hospice dedicated to children with life-limiting conditions, Santa encountered Micky and her mother Liz. Liz characterized the visit as “pretty special.” Liz stated, “It’s a once in a lifetime experience to see Santa arriving on a helicopter. It’s one that we’ll cherish for a long time.” She elaborated that her daughter possesses a “complex medical history,” having been diagnosed with cancer two years prior and subsequently undergoing four organ transplants. Liz mentioned, “numerous complications and a long time spent in hospital.” She added, “Coming to Charlton Farm and meeting Santa is a really big deal for us.” She expressed hope that this would be her daughter’s first Christmas and birthday celebrated at home. Annaliese was also present at the hospice grounds with her children, Charlotte and Finley. She clarified that Finley has a muscle condition caused by a gene fault impacting every muscle in his body, necessitating 24-hour care. She noted that attending the event allowed them to “be a normal family and to enjoy time together within a safe space where we’ve got care around us, and support, which is a huge thing, especially at Christmas time.” She added that the festive season “can be really tricky” and involves “a lot of pressure” to ensure it is memorable. She further explained, “It’s difficult to access Christmas events and things with a life-limited child.” She added: “You don’t know how long you’ve got, so you want to make sure that every Christmas is as magical as it can be.” She concluded, “Charlton Farm helps us to do some really magical things that we just couldn’t normally do.” Helen Broadbent, a senior team leader at Charlton Farm, commented that an event exclusively for families with children not expected to reach adulthood rendered it “really special and really magical.” She added, “It’s another milestone they’ve reached and that’s time together.” She clarified that a day allowing families to shift their focus from medical concerns and hospital appointments provides them “time to pause and have those memories and have that time.” Ms. Broadbent further remarked, “”Time is a precious thing. “To see the smiles on their faces is absolutely priceless.” For updates, follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Story suggestions can be sent via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for content on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.