12 Days of Christmas: Four Hours of Respite 

For many families facing the challenges of caring for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition respite care isn’t just a break – it’s a lifeline. At Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, we provide vital respite care that allows families to recharge, spend precious time together, and have quality time for themselves or with their other children. 

This Christmas, as we continue our 12 Days of Christmas, we want to highlight the profound impact of this service made possible by the generosity of people like you. 

A Sanctuary of Care and Comfort 

Our hospice in Maidenhead is a warm and welcoming home away from home where babies, children, young people and their families can find support. Respite care offers children the opportunity to engage in tailored activities, from sensory play in our purpose-built room to creating music with our therapists.  

Meanwhile, parents can take a well-earned rest, meet with friends, catch up with life admin, or anything else they need to achieve, knowing their child is in a safe and nurturing environment with highly skilled and dedicated staff.  

“It’s a place where we all feel at home,” shares one parent. “The team doesn’t just care for our child; they care for our entire family. Those hours of respite are priceless.” 

We know that caring for a child with complex needs can be isolating and exhausting. Our respite service is designed to provide a break from the physical and emotional toll while creating joyful memories for families to cherish. 

Stories of Hope 

For Annicka and Politon, whose son Elikai has been supported by Alexander Devine and is our ‘Christmas Star’ for the Alexander Devine Christmas Appeal 2024, respite care has been transformative. 

“It’s more than just a break,” Annicka explains. “It’s knowing that someone else understands, that you’re not alone. And when we come back, we feel stronger as a family.” 

She continues, “We can’t leave Elikai with just anyone and that makes working or doing anything for ourselves so difficult. Alexander Devine makes such a difference to our lives. Elikai would not have progressed as far as he has without the hospice service and the activities he can access.” 

Supporting Respite Care This Christmas 

In these challenging financial times, the demand for our services has never been greater. That’s why this year’s Devine Christmas Appeal is so crucial. Every donation helps us continue to provide our lifeline of respite care to families who need it most. 

Your generosity ensures that we can keep offering these vital services to families like Annicka and Politon’s. Every pound raised makes a difference. 

Give the Gift of Respite Care 

This Christmas, we invite you to join our Devine Christmas Appeal and help us ensure that no family misses out on the care and support they deserve. 

Together, we can make this season brighter for families navigating the toughest of journeys. 

To donate and make a vital difference to the respite services we can continue to offer, please visit our Christmas Appeal page at alexanderdevine.org/christmas/ and follow the instructions on the page.  

Thank you for being part of our story this festive season. With your support, we can continue to bring light, hope, and care to those who need it most.