Ella’s special place

Photo: FIONA GOODALL

CUDDLE TIME: Nine-year-old Claudia Chaney with cat Crystal, mum Lisa Petersen and charge nurse Ngaire Murray. Claudia cut the ribbon to officially open Ella’s Cuddle Corner – a new area in Starship’s atrium where patients can spend time with their pets.

Photo: FIONA GOODALL

IN MEMORY: Jane Thompson speaks at the opening of Ella’s Cuddle Corner on Wednesday.

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"Ella would be so proud."

Jane Thompson stood in the atrium of Starship children’s hospital at the opening of Ella’s Cuddle Corner on Wednesday and spoke about her beautiful little girl who had loved animals.

In 2003, five-year-old Ella Mackie died of an inoperable brain tumour.

"The prognosis was days, weeks or months," Mrs Thompson says.

Knowing they only had a short time left with Ella, her family did all they could for her.

"Anything she asked for, we gave her." That included bringing Kevin into Starship. Kevin was the family’s much-loved cat.

They managed to smuggle him in, and Ella’s health temporarily improved.

"It meant a lot to her, although she was very sick. It made her feel a lot better," Mrs Thompson says.

Ella died on February 26, 2003, and seven years later her legacy lives on in Ella’s Cuddle Corner.

Mrs Thompson has been working towards this since Ella died.

Now in the atrium there is an area where Starship’s long-term and critically ill patients can spend time with their pets.

"It will be wonderful. Children have a very special relationship with their pets."

Nine-year-old Claudia Chaney had the privilege of cutting the ribbon which officially opened the cuddle corner.

Dressed in a beautiful pink dress, and with her face painted like a majestic cat, the young girl drove her wheelchair into the enclosure
to spend time with her cat
Crystal.

Since Claudia was three years old she has spent a lot of time in Starship.

She suffers from severe graft-versus-host disease which she developed after
a bone marrow transplant for leukaemia five years
ago.

Parts of Claudia’s skin are like open wounds, so she must come to Starship twice a week for a dressing change.

Her mother, Lisa Petersen, believes being able to spend time with their pets will stop some of the fear children experience while being in Starship.

"All Claudia wanted to do during a recent stay in Starship was go home and see her cat."

 Starship Foundation chief executive Andrew Young says fundraising for the cuddle corner began at the end of 2008.

"The response was immediate and overwhelming."

More than $20,000 was raised for the purpose-built, easily sterilised area.

"This is really emotional for all of us because of Ella’s legacy and how much Ella touched us all," Mr Young says.

"She may not be around today, but her memory will stay in Starship for a long time."

Ella’s Cuddle Corner will be opened on a request
basis for one-on-one visits for Starship’s long-term and seriously ill patients with their pets.

It will be supervised by hospital volunteers.

- © Fairfax NZ News