Julie Wren Trust Donates New Complementary Therapy Room to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin

01 December 2011

01 December 2011

Thanks to the generosity of the Julie Wren Trust at the Children’s Medical & Research Foundation, a new service has started at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin offering children and their parents a range of therapies to help ease some of their suffering.   The new Complementary Therapy Unit was officially opened by Miriam O’Callaghan at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin today (1 December 2011 at 10:30am).  The service is available to both children & parents in the National Children’s Haematology & Oncology Centre offering therapies such as aromatherapy, reflexology and Indian head massage on-site. 

Children being treated for cancer can often feel stressed and anxious, as well as experiencing pain and nausea.  Complementary therapies are known to help alleviate these conditions.  A skilled Complementary therapist, who is also a children' nurse and has years of experience in the area of Haematology/Oncology will provide the new service. The new facility was funded in totality by the Julie Wren Trust who have provided funding for a half time complementary therapist for a timeframe of 5 years.

The Trust which was established in memory of Julie Wren who died of cancer at the age of 8.  Julie’s mother Esther Wren who set up The Julie Wren Trust visited the unit to today and said:

“This was a dream and today the dream has become a reality”.

Speaking at the opening, Assistant Director of Nursing, Dympna Cawley said:

“This service will mean a great deal to our patients. The therapy room is an oasis of calm and will be extremely well used. Complementary Therapies are best described as therapies that can be used with conventional medicine. They are used to promote well being and to manage symptoms related to cancer treatment. Therapies provided include mediation, relaxation, visualisation, gentle massage, aromatherapy & reflexology. It is important to note that our Complementary Therapy Service is used in conjunction with our conventional forms of treatment which treat and cure cancer. This service gives parents & children the opportunity to focus on their spiritual & emotional wellbeing. It empowers parents and children and they feel more in control of their illness.”

Lorcan Birthistle, Chief Executive of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin:

 “The Julie Wren Trust at the Children’s Medical & Research Foundation was established in January 2006, and thanks to the generosity of Julie’s mother, Esther, family and friends the hospital has accomplished the key objectives of the trust, our Complementary Therapy service was our last objective. The Trust is dedicated to improving the care, healing and recovery of the country’s youngest battlers against cancer but also to help alleviate the stress on parents and extended families members.  On behalf of all the staff and patients and families of the hospital I would like to congratulate and sincerely thank Esther Wren and her family and friends who have supported the Trust so generously”.