Dealing with a life-threatening illness and achieving childhood dreams
In 1989, four-year-old Anna became unwell and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Anna sadly died in 2021, aged 37, due to complications resulting from her childhood illness.
Anna’s family was supported by Rainbow Trust in 1992. While they were being supported Thomas, Anna’s brother, shared his experience of visiting Rainbow House in Rainbow Trust’s newsletter of that year.
Anna’s family,
supported in 1992
"My name is Thomas. I am nine years old and have a sister, Anna, who is seven years old. I have stayed at Rainbow House four times. I wanted to stay there because I thought it would be exciting and it was.
When I arrived we looked around the lounge and I liked the playroom. On the second day Daddy and I played football with Family Support Worker Simon. My favourite room is the playroom where there is an electronic keyboard. I’m not very good at playing it but I like to press all the buttons. There was a computer in the children’s ward which I played on.
Pasta is my favourite food and they give it to me at Rainbow House sometimes. Rainbow House is near lots of good places that we can visit and Rainbow House people come with us. The garden is very big and I can go high on the swing by myself. At the farm I bottle fed a lamb that was four days old. Anna also fed it. The lambs followed us about and one of them stood on my foot.
We came to Rainbow House because Anna was very ill and we needed to rest. We don’t have to pay. On Mummy’s birthday Anna got very sick and had to go to hospital. I was asleep so Daddy woke me up to tell me.
When I was about seven the doctor said Anna had to go to hospital and she had an operation. I went to visit her and her face looked different.
When Anna came home she had a limp. She had to have more operations and now she has a wheelchair. I sometimes push her and I like to do that.
My Daddy works at Gatwick airport and Mummy used to work but she does not now because she looks after Anna. Mummy and Daddy were very worried. At one time our bunny rabbits Stardust and Snowy had to be looked after by someone else. They were very excited when we got them back.
I like the people at Rainbow House because they are friendly. We are all happy when we are there – even Mummy and Daddy. It is a charity that helps Mummies and Daddies who have a very sick child.
When I grow up I want to be a pilot. I hope there is a picture of me in the newsletter.”
Thomas, aged nine
“When Anna was able to go home from hospital, Family Support Worker David used to come and help us at home with jobs around the house.
“One time we were at Rainbow House, Anna went into an epileptic seizure and she had to be rushed up to hospital. Thomas stayed at Rainbow House and was taken to and from school by the Family Support Workers. The support meant that my husband, Jeremy, could keep working and I could focus on Anna.”
For Margaret, the support she and her family received at Rainbow House and at home gave them time to spend together as a family and the relief of knowing that Thomas was supported and getting to school okay. It was respite for her and a chance to talk to someone about everything she was juggling.
Thomas gardening with Family Support Worker Arthur
Thomas and Anna with Family Support Worker Irene
Thomas now in his captain uniform
34 years since they received support, Anna and Thomas’ mum, Margaret, shared that Thomas, now 43, is doing well, still loves pasta and is a captain with easyJet, making his childhood dream come true.
Margaret also recalled the difference Rainbow Trust’s support made to her at such a hard time.
“After finding out Anna’s diagnosis, it was disbelief initially. I had to give up work, I had to give all that up.
“We were offered to go and stay at Rainbow House, which was lovely because it meant we did not have any chores to do. We got quality time without having to worry about cooking and cleaning. They also organised special days out which Thomas and Anna both enjoyed very much.
“It was lovely for Thomas, we could give him time and there were activities he could do at Rainbow House. It is very difficult when you are caring for a sick child and you have another child who you can’t give as much attention to as you feel they deserve.
Dealing with a life-threatening illness and achieving childhood dreams
In 1989, four-year-old Anna became unwell and was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Anna sadly died in 2021, aged 37, due to complications resulting from her childhood illness.
Anna’s family was supported by Rainbow Trust in 1992. While they were being supported Thomas, Anna’s brother, shared his experience of visiting Rainbow House in Rainbow Trust’s newsletter of that year.
Anna’s family,
supported in 1992
"My name is Thomas. I am nine years old and have a sister, Anna, who is seven years old. I have stayed at Rainbow House four times. I wanted to stay there because I thought it would be exciting and it was.
When I arrived we looked around the lounge and I liked the playroom. On the second day Daddy and I played football with Family Support Worker Simon. My favourite room is the playroom where there is an electronic keyboard. I’m not very good at playing it but I like to press all the buttons. There was a computer in the children’s ward which I played on.
Pasta is my favourite food and they give it to me at Rainbow House sometimes. Rainbow House is near lots of good places that we can visit and Rainbow House people come with us. The garden is very big and I can go high on the swing by myself. At the farm I bottle fed a lamb that was four days old. Anna also fed it. The lambs followed us about and one of them stood on my foot.
We came to Rainbow House because Anna was very ill and we needed to rest. We don’t have to pay. On Mummy’s birthday Anna got very sick and had to go to hospital. I was asleep so Daddy woke me up to tell me.
When I was about seven the doctor said Anna had to go to hospital and she had an operation. I went to visit her and her face looked different.
When Anna came home she had a limp. She had to have more operations and now she has a wheelchair. I sometimes push her and I like to do that.
My Daddy works at Gatwick airport and Mummy used to work but she does not now because she looks after Anna. Mummy and Daddy were very worried. At one time our bunny rabbits Stardust and Snowy had to be looked after by someone else. They were very excited when we got them back.
I like the people at Rainbow House because they are friendly. We are all happy when we are there – even Mummy and Daddy. It is a charity that helps Mummies and Daddies who have a very sick child.
When I grow up I want to be a pilot. I hope there is a picture of me in the newsletter.”
Thomas, aged nine
Back
34 years since they received support, Anna and Thomas’ mum, Margaret, shared that Thomas, now 43, is doing well, still loves pasta and is a captain with easyJet, making his childhood dream come true.
Margaret also recalled the difference Rainbow Trust’s support made to her at such a hard time.
“After finding out Anna’s diagnosis, it was disbelief initially. I had to give up work, I had to give all that up.
“We were offered to go and stay at Rainbow House, which was lovely because it meant we did not have any chores to do. We got quality time without having to worry about cooking and cleaning. They also organised special days out which Thomas and Anna both enjoyed very much.
“It was lovely for Thomas, we could give him time and there were activities he could do at Rainbow House. It is very difficult when you are caring for a sick child and you have another child who you can’t give as much attention to as you feel they deserve.
“When Anna was able to go home from hospital, Family Support Worker David used to come and help us at home with jobs around the house.
“One time we were at Rainbow House, Anna went into an epileptic seizure and she had to be rushed up to hospital. Thomas stayed at Rainbow House and was taken to and from school by the Family Support Workers. The support meant that my husband, Jeremy, could keep working and I could focus on Anna.”
For Margaret, the support she and her family received at Rainbow House and at home gave them time to spend together as a family and the relief of knowing that Thomas was supported and getting to school okay. It was respite for her and a chance to talk to someone about everything she was juggling.
Thomas gardening with Family Support Worker Arthur
Thomas and Anna with Family Support Worker Irene
Thomas now in his captain uniform