Donate now to help children get better, faster
Play is the best medicine for children like Arlo – your support helps children face their fears and heal faster.
Arlo's story
Arlo has Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome – a genetic condition so rare, only 50 people in the world are known to have it. A few years ago, he was also diagnosed with a rare and life-threatening stomach condition after he began vomiting repeatedly. By the time he was admitted to hospital for urgent treatment, Arlo had become dangerously malnourished and underweight.
Instead of going to school, riding his bike or playing with his new twin baby brothers, Arlo spent six long weeks in hospital being poked, prodded and scanned. Every four hours, day and night, his temperature and heart rate were monitored. And Arlo’s days were filled with blood tests, ward rounds, and uncomfortable treatments. It was completely overwhelming. At one point, Arlo was under the care of 15 different professionals.
But it was an incredible Health Play Specialist called Debbie who transformed Arlo’s hospital stay into something more bearable. Arlo saw Debbie almost every day, and for a few precious hours each day, play was the only thing on Arlo’s mind. It was an antidote to his traumatic medical procedures and a vital part of his treatment.
Arlo still has complex medical needs, but he approaches each hospital appointment with resilience, not dread. He used to say, “It’s okay if we have to go back”. That resilience was built through play – and through the kind and generous support of people like you.
When my son Arlo was very ill in hospital, being able to play was a vital part of his care. Through play, he felt calm enough to face his fears and cope with his treatment.
Why your donation matters
Play not only distracts children during their long, monotonous, hospital stay - it reduces their distress too. Through structured play sessions, children learn what to expect when doctors and healthcare staff need to carry out medical tests, scans and other procedures.
Specialist health play professionals use Starlight’s resources to put children at ease and gear them up for their treatment. This means children’s healing isn’t held back by trauma, allowing them to get better, faster.
By giving a gift today, you’ll bring comfort to children in hospital, help them to feel safe and allow them to face their treatment with courage.
Playing is fun, especially if you’re having a bad day. It helps people who feel sad and scared when they are in the hospital. The playworkers were fun and not going to do any tests on me, so I trusted them.