Posted on August 31, 2016
A little wish
We told our little one that for his fourth birthday we would all take the day off – no work, no kindy, just us – and he’d be able to pick what we did for the day. High tea? Staglands? The Zoo? Looking for penguins at Greta Point? A bush walk? A ride on the cable car? Whatever he wanted – we would try to make it happen.
He asked us about whether we would be collecting again for the “hosdiddle” because he remembered that sometime near his birthday last year he’d stood at the railway station and shaken a little bucket. He had filled the bucket with coins, met some new friends, and given all of the money raised to the Wellington Children’s Hospital.
“I want to get moneys again for the sick babies” he said. I flicked an email to the lovely Sara and lined us up for an hour collecting – this year the street appeal actually falls on his birthday.
A week or so later I said – have you decided what you want to do on your birthday? We could go on a ferry if you like? Or maybe to Zealandia? And he said – “I told you! I want to get moneys for the sick babies who getted made better at the hosdiddle!”
Oh OK I said to him – but you only collect for an hour – so we can work that into your day. And he said – “No, that’s what I want to do all day! I want to get moneys for all the babies all day for my birthday!”
I got a bit teary because it was just so sweet I mean gosh, but I thought – does he really want to do this? So I said – do you just want to see Hospi again? Because we might be able to see him even if you just collect for an hour. You don’t have to collect all day to see Hospi.
And he said – Yes, but then continued on in that stream of consciousness way of talking three-year-old’s have: “an I not only want to see Hospi I want to collect moneys all day because when I was a liddle a couple more years ago I seen Hospi all the time an he maked me ged all better when I couldn’t do breaths an I had to be at the hosdiddle. An Hospi maked my baby brother ged all better too. An they maked better the sick babies when they come to the hosdiddle. So I want to get them not jus one whole bucket but six whole buckets of moneys”.
I sometimes wonder how much he remembers from his time in the children’s hospital. We – my husband and I, our family, and all of the doctors and nurses, worked hard to support him and we tried to help him understand what was happening but he was so, so small. It was so hard to explain what was happening to him during surgeries and tests – we tried. It was ever harder to put him through procedures and wipe the tears away before, during, and after. We all cried so much during that horrible time. But we tried not to do it in front of him. We tried to make the environment a good one for him – and so did the hospital.
Sometimes it’s hard to believe we are through the other side – but we are.
And when we hear our precious baby say he wants to collect money for the hospital for his birthday it reminds us that they did more than care for his tiny body. The children’s ward is a breathtakingly sad place a lot of the time, but there’s so much kindness there. There’s so much love, it’s overwhelming in its abundance.
Now my baby can breathe, because of the wonderful people at Wellington Children’s Hospital. Now he just takes my breath away. And that kindness that enveloped him during his time there has turned him into this beautiful little boy who wants to give back.
So on his birthday – 30 September – we’ll be heading around Wellington and Eddie’s little wish is to collect six whole buckets for the place that was so gentle with him and his very grateful parents. We’ll be with him – and if you think your workplace would tolerate a visit from Eddie and his bucket – please let me know by commenting or emailing me at emilywritesnz@gmail.com. Please make sure it’s OK with the boss! All of the funds raised will go to the wonderful folks at the Children’s Hospital of course and we have their permission! We’ll also end our day collecting at the railway station so we might see you there!
If you’d like to help Eddie reach his six buckets birthday goal – you could also donate here, we set up a Givealittle that will go directly to the hospital. It’s a way for people who aren’t able to give in Wellington to support the cause if they’d like to.
To anyone who donates on the day to any of the collectors, or directly into Eddie’s bucket, or on the givealittle – I want to say thank you! Thanks for supporting my little one and showing him he can make a difference in the world, more importantly – thanks for supporting a wonderful cause. The Children’s Hospital staff are just wonderful, amazing people. And we love them.
I’ve written a bit about the kids and hospital if you’d like to read a bit more about how we feel about all of this –
There will be lots of people collecting 30 September so please give generously. Or again – let us know if you want a visit! emilywritesnz@gmail.com! Or there’s the Givealittle! Thank you!
If you have a little one you think would love to shake a bucket for a great cause you can apply to be a collector for the Children’s Hospital here. You can follow Eddie’s collecting journey on Facebook.
Oh Emily. I’m lying beside Bowie the baby his hand on my face (the only way I can get him to sleep..) my head on my arm, phone held up. Tears streaming on to the tiny warm hand on my face. We are so lucky. To be mums. To have free healthcare for our babies. To be in NZ. To be in Wellington. To have boys with big hearts. Thank Eddie from me and my boys. X
I think this all the time. And it’s why I do my best to give back where I can – I think about the families still on the ward and I just can’t stop the tears. Love to you and your boys ❤️ We are just so lucky ❤️
That gorgeous boy melts my heart <3 Such a loving soul.
He melts my heart too!
Oh bless, Eddie, you are so good for this world & make my heart so glad xx Would love to help you towards your goal!
Thank you Stacey!
Happy birthday little one! What a brilliant thing to do for your birthday – a special day that is as my little boy also turns 4 on the 30th September – your twinnie from the other side of the world in London! His sister spent her first few weeks in the hospiddle too. Jonny says hi.
Happy birthday little Jonny! Maybe they should become pen pals!
You are raising such a wonderful human. xxx
He’s easy to raise because he’s such a sweetheart!
Dearest bright heart Eddie! Ever since I started following you on Twitter Emily, Eddie has shone. He is so sweet and caring but also hilarious and curious, and I love what I know of him through what you’ve posted. I’d love to help him have his birthday wish (six buckets is heaps for a kid turning 4!), so I’ll donate online. I hope your eldest baby has a tremendous day and that his wish comes true! ❤️
Thank you so much Anthea! Thanks for sharing the journey with us x
Have had 2 boys and 1 granddaughter in Wellington Neo natal unit so do give them a monthly donation as I am so grateful for the care that they were given. And over the years I have seen how much our health professionals do on less and less Government money. Love the fact that you son gets how much the people cared for him. Wish our taxes paid properly for hospitals and the army had to fund raise for tanks!
Thank you for donating. And I totally agree with everything you’ve said x
I have an amazing little (now very big) guy too, and Wellington Children’s Hospital was also there for us when he was two weeks old with a life-threatening infection. Please tell Eddie he’s amazing, and that when he is out collecting on 30th September, we’ll be delivering a box of the tiniest, wee-est, hand-knitted bootees and beanies to the Neo-Natal Unit for all the new amazing guys and gals who arrive unexpectedly 🙂
Oh that must have been such a scary time for you! I’m so glad he’s OK now. That is just so wonderful that you’re delivering some goodies to the unit! The Neonatal unit folks are just so incredible. And all the mamas and papas there are just such awesome people.
Hi there,
Me and a few other superhero friends are already lined up to collect for the Hospital. We’re wondering while you’re collecting, if Eddie would appreciate a visit from Iron Man, Batman, maybe a Ninja Turtle and some Storm Troopers? I’m sure we could organise something awesome!
http://www.facebook.com/wellingtonironman
He would so love that Matt! We will be at the railway station collecting from 3pm till 5pm (hopefully as long as Eddie isn’t too tired). Or we could organise to come past the hospital. Whatever works! Just email me at emilywritesnz@gmail.com. He LOVES the ninja turtles and Batman!
What a gorgeous little boy, inside and out.
We had a bubba there last year, poor Charlie didn’t make it, but the doctors were so fantastic!! (Even coming in from leave for consultations!!)
My husband Glen is collecting for hospi too, he’ll be one of the storm troopers out and about. We’ll look out for you guys!
Oh gosh, I don’t know what to say. That’s awful. I’m so sorry. I will look out for your husband ❤️
Wow what a story, great little man you have there. My family has been a regular visitor to the children’s ward in the last year with our 1 year old. I’m collecting today to give a little back and I hope we reach young Eddie’s target.