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Home Latest News, Research Together For Short Lives…
A powerful animation created for Together for Short Lives by video marketing agency Hurricane Media is released today. The short film, We're having a baby was produced pro bono for the UK children's palliative care charity, using real life stories to help raise awareness of the support and services available to families caring for a child with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition.
It's hoped that the film will both communicate the needs of families when they hear the news of their child's diagnosis and also reassure families that there are specialist children's palliative care services to support them. The film speaks to families who care for the UK's 49, 000 children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
The animation tells the story of a couple at a very exciting time in their life – they're having a baby. The film describes the heart-breaking moment it all changed when they hear the news that their child has life-limiting condition. The devastating realisation that their child is likely to die before them leaves the couple feeling lost and alone. Although there is no cure for their child's condition, the moving story goes on to explain that help is at hand for the family on their journey. They learn that with care, help and support they can find moments to savour and have a life together, no matter how short.
Barbara Gelb, Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives said: "We are thrilled with the We're having a baby animation, which was very generously produced for us free of charge by Hurricane Media. We worked very closely with their team, drawing on our experience of working with families and the children's palliative care sector to create a moving film which tells a difficult story. A story that is often hard to put into words.
"It provides a brand new way to raise awareness of the reality many families face when they hear the news that their child may not live to reach adulthood. We want families to know that they are not alone and that there are some fantastic children's hospice and palliative care services out there."
Hurricane MD, Jon Mowat interviewed a number of families about their experiences of receiving their child's diagnosis and coping with the news that their child has a life-limiting condition. A common thread began to appear – from "being cast adrift" when parents heard this news, to feeling "grounded" and supported by children's hospice and palliative care services and by calling the Together for Short Lives family helpline.
Jon Mowat said: "We're proud to be working in partnership with Together for Short Lives to help raise their profile in order that they can continue their valuable work. Speaking to parents facing their worst fears really brought home to me the vital role this charity plays. Many of the Hurricane team are parents of young children, and therefore we empathise, and were keen to help by doing what we do best – telling powerful stories. The whole team worked on the video. It was a real labour of love."
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