One Mother to Another

From One Mother to Another was started in the middle of 2016 after Christina Buckland had to take her daughter Arabelle into the CAA department of Christchurch hospital (Children’s Acute Assessment Unit), which, even though the staff are amazing, is a very scary and uncertain place to be.

It was a very challenging time for her...

While in the unit, Arabelle was given an age appropriate 'goodie' bag full of things to entertain her, and it was a little ray of light into her world that morning. These packs for the kids are funded by the hospital and are an asset to the wards.

It gave Christina the idea to put a pack together for the Mum or a Carer in an effort to encourage and improve what could quite possibly be, one of the most stressful days of their lives.

She self funded 10 packs, which proved a big hit.

Joy Reid (also a mother who has spent time in hospital with one of her children) then got onboard and worked her magic to make this thought a bigger reality! They now supply around 50 packs per month to the staff at the CAA ward. The staff then choose which Mothers or Carers receive them (usually those who are under a lot of stress/ pressure or those with very young babies).

Each pack is filled to the brim with goodies, some items are practical and some are pure indulgent.

The items have either been generously donated from businesses, others have been purchased using donated money from family and friends, and other items are beautifully hand made goods.

The feedback from the Christchurch Children's Acute Assessment Unit has been astounding. In one of his latest emails, the charge nurse of the unit Warren Nairn wrote "The packs continue to be very well received; both by the staff giving them out and the mothers receiving them. One new mother cried when she was given one. Tears of appreciation of course."

This has made us want to try make these packs a regular occurrence.