Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – David Suchet
This short film, narrated by acclaimed British actor David Suchet CBE, communicates some of the key principles of children’s palliative care. Regrettably, not all children are blessed with the gift of good health.
In fact, there are over twenty million children around the world who have been diagnosed with potentially life-limiting conditions.
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star – David Suchet
You are about to witness something unexpected – the extraordinary stories of children and young people around the world living, and thriving, with serious illnesses. This is thanks not only to their tremendous individual characters, courage and spirit, but also to the support of their loved ones, who are working in close collaboration with children’s palliative care teams. Children’s palliative care is a response to the suffering of a child and their family facing life-threatening conditions. These illnesses may be relatively common, like cancer and cystic fibrosis, or very rare indeed. Children’s palliative care is holistic, looking at the body, mind and spirit within the social and cultural context. It cares for the child, and their family, from the time of diagnosis and can continue for years or even decades.
Care is provided by multiple professionals specializing in physical, phycological and social support, wherever that care is required. Many life-limiting conditions are familial – they run in the family.
Children’s palliative care acknowledges that despite their diagnoses, children continue to develop physically, emotionally and cognitively.This affects both their medical and social needs and their understanding of disease and death. Importantly, children’s palliative care demands the provision of education to sick children as essential, and a legal entitlement. It also acknowledges that this adds to the complexity of care.
Children’s palliative care acknowledges that families are the prime careers and that home is the centre of caring. Services should be coordinated to provide flexible, comprehensive support for the whole family, including siblings. The care of children with life-limiting conditions should be holistic and multi-disciplinary. This requires a range of services and the skills of those trained and experienced in the care of children. In all settings children should be cared for in a child-centred environment.
Different aspects of the children’s palliative care package are delivered by a wide range of services and agencies across the health, social and voluntary sectors. This requires close liaison and effective networking to deliver care in a coordinated way.
Children’s palliative care stands for social inclusion and rails against discrimination. It seeks out opportunities for growth and development. And it advocates for the voice of children living with life-limiting illness to be heard.
Children’s palliative care cares for the child from the time of diagnosis until death, and after death it does bereavement support for the family. In some countries health professionals never acknowledge death in children. The cultural denial of the fact that children actually die prohibits the development of children’s palliative care services. The taboo around child death, without an open and honest approach, means that families are often forced to make ill-informed decisions to pursue aggressive curative treatments.
Little Stars tells the surprisingly life-affirming stories of young people around the world living with life-limiting illnesses. Against the odds, these children and young adults are making the most of every moment thanks to the support of their loved ones, working in harmony with passionate ‘pain and palliative care’ teams.
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OTHER SHORTFILMS
Lucy’s Story – Art and Children’s Palliative Care
Lucy is a teenager living with her family in Munich, Germany. People say her art is exceptional, and indeed it is, not only does it look wonderful but she has the added challenge of having to hold her brush in her mouth to paint. Lucy has...
read moreFaith and Dying – Joshua’s Story
"Just never give up hope, there will always be miracle happen, I will not give up hope on him, never." Yoong Teck Chin In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia we meet Yoong Teck Chin, Joshua's mother. "When he was small he was so adorable, so chubby and...
read moreTreating Chronic Pain in Children
"Taking pain away is not really rocket science, it’s not that difficult. If we can teach any residence, any junior doctors in one or two hours to manage 90% of children with acute pain. However most children’s hospitals have not yet...
read moreNazmi’s Story – Prospering with a Genetic Disorder
Read an update from Nazmi here “I honestly feel that there is no need for euthanasia at all. I think it is looking at suffering and end of life care in entirely the wrong way. There are many, many solutions in suffering and euthanasia is...
read morePalliative Care & Cerebral Palsy – Nadia’s Story
Please consider supporting the important work of the Russian Children’s Palliative Care Foundation www.rcpcf.ru In Moscow, Russia we meet Svetlana Selyukova, Nadia’s Sister “I think we have a regular sisterly relationship. She is annoying, I...
read moreCalvin’s Story – Children’s Hospice
"I'm so desperate for Calvin to get his independence and try to be a normal boy as much as he can," reflects Maureen Muteesa from London, the mother of 8 year old Calvin who is living with a serious illness. Calvin's Story demonstrates the...
read moreLittle Stars Greece Crowdfunding Campaign
Little Stars is a film project told through the voices of young people and their families. It showcases the stories of children and young people accomplishing the extraordinary in the face of serious illness. This UNIVERSAL ISSUE touches...
read moreLittle Stars – UK Hospice Going Global
This week we are pleased to be supporting the release of a short film that encourages sharing skills and knowledge of children’s palliative care internationally. This film explains what we can learn together by international linking and...
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