Patients from Birmingham Children’s Hospital have become stars of the high street after appearing on a new charity display at the recently vacated M&S High Street store.
Thanks to Central BID, and M&S who generously gifted Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity the space, the display will help raise money for the charity’s latest fundraising campaign, the £3m It Starts Here Appeal.
The appeal will transform the hospital’s current cramped and dark front entrance into a welcoming, child-friendly, open and bright space to stop patients feeling afraid.
The new picture display features 10 of the hospital’s current patients, some of whom travelled into the city centre to see their pictures for the first time. Two of the children include 10-year-old Tayshelice, from Kingstanding, who has sickle cell disease and five-year-old Hafsa, from Halesowen, who has spina bifida. Both are also the faces of the It Starts Here Appeal.
Tayshelice has been treated at the hospital since she was a baby. Sickle cell disease causes painful episodes called sickle cell crises and can also cause an increased risk of serious infections, anaemia, which can cause fatigue, strokes and lung problems. The family are regulars at the hospital and, if a crisis strikes, can be admitted from anywhere between a few days and a few weeks. In January 2022, Tayshelice also suffered two major silent strokes.
Meanwhile, Hafsa was diagnosed with spina bifida at her mum’s 20-week-scan. She had an operation when she was born to close the gap in her spine and is still under the care of multiple departments due to the complexity of her condition. Hafsa’s mobility has improved over the years, but she still uses a wheelchair when she gets tired. Most recently, she spent a few weeks in hospital after undergoing an operation on a dislocated hip.
Visiting the display for the first time, Faizah, Hafsa’s mum, said: “It’s lovely to see the Children’s Hospital being represented so prominently in the city centre, and to see all the beautiful faces of all these brave children who have gone through such big battles. Thank you to anyone who donates to the It Starts Here Appeal. We can’t wait to see the changes at the hospital.”
Mark Brider, CEO of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “The display looks incredible and we’re so thankful to Central BID and M&S for giving us the opportunity to spread the word about our It Starts Here Appeal in such a prime city centre location. The appeal is all about our patients – improving our front entrance, so that they have a much better experience when visiting us – and it’s a delight to see them get their moment in the spotlight.”
The patients featured on the display are:
- Ivy-Lee, 17-months-old, from Dudley, who has spinal muscular atrophy Type 1
- Subhan, four, from Coventry, who has chronic kidney disease
- Jessie, three, from Tamworth, who is being treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
- Reese, three, from Hereford, who has acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
- Eliza, eight, from Birmingham, who has osteosarcoma
- Khadija, 11, from Birmingham, who has epilepsy
- Daisie, 11, who is being treated for neurofibromatosis Type 2
- Tayshelice, 10, from Kingstanding, Birmingham, who has sickle cell disease
- Emmie, three, from Birmingham, who has focal dermal hypoplasia
- Hafsa, five, from Halesowen, who was born with spina bifida
The display will be live for as long as the appeal runs. To learn more about the £3m It Starts Here Appeal, or to donate, please visit: bch.org.uk/it-starts-here