LIFE IS SHORT, VALUE EVERY MOMENT.
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.
Children’s palliative care is a response to the suffering of a child and their family facing life-threatening conditions. It’s holistic, looking at the body, mind and spirit within the social and cultural context. It cares for the child from the time of diagnosis until death, and after death it does bereavement support for the family.
Regrettably, not all conditions can be cured. However, many children with life-limiting conditions will live for years, if not decades. Currently, 20 Million children around the world can benefit from palliative care, but access to services remains an issue (ICPCN). Children are particularly at risk of inadequate pain management due to age related factors, limited access to essential medicines and misconceptions about how to effectively treat their pain. These vulnerable children and families are suffering. They are largely invisible. But for those who are receiving care, the results are extraordinary.
These remarkable stories show young people finding hope, love, joy and attainment in the face of the inevitable. Featuring Joan Marston, Dr Ednin Hamzah, Dr Sarah Friebert, Naledi Kopane, Dr Lee Ai Chong, Dr Joanne Wolfe, LeeAnne Curran, Dr Franca Benini.
ABOUT LITTLE STARS
Stories have been captured in 9 countries – the USA, South Africa, India, Australia, Malaysia, Italy, Jordan, the UK and Russia.
The series is presented by acclaimed British actor David Suchet CBE.
The series will compromise a one-hour feature film for television, with broadcast confirmed through Al Jazeera Documentary Channel. Additional broadcasters will be announced shortly. The project will also be broadly available through Pay TV, Video-On-Demand services including iTunes and NetFlix, DVD, iOS App and online. Please sign up to the newsletter to stay tuned to project related news, including about television broadcast announcements.
Latest News
Life Is To Be Lived
Guest Blog: Dr Chong Lee Ai, Paediatric Palliative Care, Hospis Malaysia Life is to be lived. That’s how Ahmad Nazmi keeps going. Disabilities do not hinder him from dreaming. Having a life-limiting illness does not stop him from striving to...
Together for Short Lives
Guest blog: Lizzie Chambers. Development Director, Together for Short Lives. There are an estimated 49,000 children and young people in the UK living with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition that may require palliative care...
True love against the odds – Little Stars Greece
Guest Blog by Mike Hill (Filmmaker, Little Stars) After visiting 10 countries to capture stories with dozens of families about children’s palliative care you might think that it would be impossible to surprise me. Not so. In Greece, I found...
Children’s Palliative Care in Greece
Guest Blog by Danai Papadatou I have been particularly impressed by the significant work being created through the project “Little Stars” which informs and promotes the value of pediatric palliative care for children with life limiting...
A Little Magic Unit – Guest Blog in Russian
Guest Blog from the Russian Children's Palliative Care Foundation Дела у маленькой Насти развиваются медленно, но она делает удивительные успехи. Всего лишь полгода назад врачи говорили, что она не сможет сама есть твердую пищу, а сегодня...
A Little Magic Unit
A Little Magic Unit - A guest blog from the Russian Children's Palliative Care Foundation Things are going slow with little Anastassia but she is making incredible progress - she can eat and swallow solids today though less than a year ago...
Dreams are the stuff that hope is made of
Guest Blog by Ednin Hamzah, CEO/Medical Director Hospis Malaysia Dreams are the stuff that hope is made of. And talking to the children that we are involved with gives us an insight into the dreams that they have. In listening to Linges as...
For there is still such a lot to do
Guest Blog by Gail Featherstone Gail Featherstone is the wife of the former British High Commissioner to Malaysia His Excellency Simon Featherstone CMG. Gail authored the delightful children’s book ‘Mr Monty’s Treat’ with proceeds from the...
Great Ormond Street Hospital Testimonial
'Charlie's Story' in The Louis Dundas Centre's, Paediatric Palliative Care Foundation Programme, Great Ormond Street Hospital The Louis Dundas Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital is a world-class centre of research, teaching and clinical...
Palliative Care Australia
Guest Blog by Liz Callaghan - CEO Palliative Care Australia The Little Stars project shows children all over the world at their most vulnerable. Regardless of where they are, the thing that shines through in these films is the unconditional...
