Introducing Anna, our Jolly Josh Trustee
- jollyjoshrochdale
- Jun 24, 2020
- 2 min read
In 2017 after Joshua received diagnosis of 'extensive brain damage,' Carole (Joshua's Mummy) began to vocalise the idea of Jolly ‘stay and play’ sessions to people who should have, and were in the position to empower her, to services that could have assisted, unfortunately she was very quickly dismissed.
After feeling disappointed with the lack of services available to support Joshua and her family, Carole approached Joshua’s care team with her idea of Jolly Josh, his Consultant Paediatrician, nurses, Health Visitor etc. and they were all incredibly enthusiastic. They explained that due to confidentiality policies they were not able to connect families together, but Jolly Josh would enable this to happen. She asked if they would consider supporting the group by becoming trustees, they agreed and so she began to plan.
Many of our trustees are nurses, working within the Northern Care Alliance NHG Group. Details of which can be found here.
Our gallery, #aportraitofourfamilies features Jolly Josh trustee Anna, in her professional nursing role, in full #PPE. Click here to view the gallery in full and meet our families.
Anna is a Children's Complex and Palliative Specialist Care Nurse. Carole's family were first introduced to Anna when she came to visit them at Manchester Children's Hospital after they were told that Joshua only had weeks, if months to live. Anna became a regular visitor, she also supported them at Derian House Children's Hospice and thereafter at home as they began to provide Joshua's #palliativecare Anna got to know Joshua, their family and their extended family and friends as she became regular support to us.
Anna provided Joshua's care and supported his family until Joshua passed away in August 2017.
Anna also supported Carole in February 2019 attending the North West Children's and Young People's End of Life and Palliative Care Summit #CYpEol alongside Sarah Fisher (Joshua's named Nurse) where Carole was a guest speaker (for the first ever time).
Anna became an important person to Carole and her family, she clearly is to many other families too and we're very lucky that she's now a huge part of Jolly Josh also!
Award-winning photographer, Asia Burrill, has captured these beautiful moments through the glass via social distancing whilst Anna works with families to provide much needed medical care and specialist support during #lockdown.
Comments