Beyond balloons: 6 ways to help a family in the hospital during the holidays

Sophie and Maddie pose with Santa There’s nothing like being home for the holidays. But for families with a child in the hospital, sometimes that’s just not possible. As a friend or family member, you may wonder what you can do to make the family’s holidays a little brighter. Some of the best advice comes from parents who have been there and know firsthand what can make a difference. Reach out “Don’t be afraid to let the family know you’re thinking of them,” says Boston Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council member Katie Litterer, who’s spent more than one holiday in the hospital with her twin daughters Sophie and Maddie, now age 8, after they were born prematurely at 27 weeks. “I always appreciated the reach out, no matter what was happening,” she says. “At this time of year especially, you just want to know that other people care.” Haven, with brothers Tommy and Ronan Be a point person “A lot of times, parents in the hospital don’t even know what they need,” says Litterer. “I really appreciated when people took the initiative to take charge of something, because it can be hard to ask for help.” If you’re close to the family, you can help by offering to broadcast news to other family and friends when they can’t. “It can be overwhelming and draining to keep everyone in the loop, especially when you’re in a crisis,” says Molly Foley, member of the Boston Children’s Virtual Advisory Council and mom of 6-year-old Haven, who wa...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Family Advisory Council Family Parnterships Source Type: news