Taking scary out of hospital for kids reaps reward

Media release:

September 29 2016

Taking scary out of hospital for kids reaps reward

Eilish Wilkes knows intimately what it feels like to have to go to hospital and how scary that can be for youngsters.

Now the 20-year-old Glenfield resident has done something to help. Eilish has written a book called ‘Hospital Happenings’. It’s a children’s book about the experience of going to hospital and the three basic procedures most children will experience at some stage – check-up, blood test and x-ray.

The book, years of volunteering for CanTeen and working alongside the Ministry of Health towards improving the quality of care for young cancer patients, has seen Eilish selected as a finalist for the Youth Spirit category at the 2016 Attitude Awards. The national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of Kiwis living with disability and chronic health.

Eilish was diagnosed with an opto and hypothalamic glioma cancer (an irremovable cancerous brain tumour) at the age of two. Her condition required immediate neurosurgery and 18 months of chemotherapy. The tumour has resulted in Eilish being legally blind, however she still has a little sight and can use a magnifier to enlarge text for reading.

Hospital visits didn’t finish for Eilish at that point. In the following years she underwent more chemotherapy and radiation treatment and at age nine suffered a brain bleed. Last year she was diagnosed with smart syndrome (stroke like migraine attacks after radiation therapy) and she deals with chronic fatigue and pain.

Eilish’s health issues meant she attended the Northern Health School and last year she studied a creative writing course. She soon realised a book to help children and their parents get through the daunting experience of going to hospital would make it “less scary for them”.

Last year Eilish herself was given something to make her life easier - her own guide dog called Loie.

“Loie has been wonderful. He has changed my life. I now have freedom and independence that I never thought was possible,” she says.

Eilish will find out if she has won an Attitude Award at a black-tie gala on November 29 at Auckland’s ASB Showgrounds.

There are eight categories in the 2016 Attitude Awards, with some new awards this year: Youth Spirit, Making a Difference, Emerging Athlete, Sporting Spirit, Spirit of Attitude, Artistic Achievement, Entrepreneur and Employer Award. The overall winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award is selected from the category winners and a People’s Choice winner and Hall of Fame inductee are also announced at the awards.

Dan Buckingham, Chair of the Attitude Trust, says: “Once again I take my hat off to the judges for managing to narrow down the record number of nominations we had to just 24 finalists, across the eight categories. Now I’m looking forward to getting to know the finalists as we travel around the country filming with them and sharing their stories.

“Thank you to our fantastic family of sponsors who have allowed us to once again shine a light on some great Kiwis living with disabilities doing some great things.”

Dan encourages everyone to visit AttitudeLive.com in early November to see short films of the finalists and to vote for the person most deserving of the ‘People’s Choice Award’.

The Youth Spirit Award is sponsored by Barfoot & Thompson. Peter Thompson, Managing Director, says Barfoot & Thompson is humbled to have the opportunity to be part of the Attitude Awards.

“As a family run business with family values it is an honour for us to again be involved with such an inspiring event. We would like to wish all finalists the very best of luck for the Youth Spirit Award. Just remember, in our eyes, you are all winners.”

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) returns as the principal sponsor of the 2016 Attitude Awards. Other sponsors supporting the awards are: Lion Foundation, Drake Medox, Ministry of Health, KPMG, Westpac, Manawanui InCharge, Ricoh, HealthCare NZ, Air New Zealand and NZ on Air.

ACC Chief Executive Scott Pickering says ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the Attitude Awards for the ninth year, as well as sponsor of the Supreme Award and the Employer Award categories.

“The Attitude Awards are important because they remind us that everyone benefits when we all look at what we can do, rather than what we can’t,” Mr Pickering said. “This year’s finalists have an impressive list of achievements and ACC is delighted to acknowledge New Zealanders who live life to the fullest, achieve their goals and are role models in our communities.”

For tickets to the Attitude Awards gala evening on November 29 contact Terri Cavanagh at terri@attitudeawards.org, or phone 09 378 1565.

For the latest on the Awards and the Attitude TV programme:
Like us on Facebook
facebook.com/attitudetv
Follow us on Twitter
twitter.com/attitude_tv
See behind the scenes on Instagram
instagram.com/attitudelive_/

Watch previous Awards footage at www.AttitudeLive.com

-ends-

© Scoop Media