Family Support Workers Tina and Moira supported the family, offering sibling support for Jo and her brother. These moments were very special to Jo and helped her to understand what was going on with her sister.
Meet Jo
Jo said: “I completely understand, first hand, how Rainbow Trust’s support can shine a light in the dark, how when everything seems like it has changed forever, you can get through it with a little help.”
Tina and Moira did lots of arts and crafts with Jo and her brother and took them on days out. They also brought round a Mr Men book for Jo and her brother to colour in which explained about her sister’s illness and why their mum had to spend a lot of time at the hospital.
Jo and her family also stayed at Rainbow House. Jo reminisced about how going there felt like going on holiday, to a home away from home.
She remembers creating a racing circuit in the garden to ride her bike around, going fishing in a big Volvo, waking up to the smell of toast, her mum chatting to the Family Support Workers, playing games in the evening with her family, and spending a long time in the playroom on the rocking horse, which you can view at the top of the page and today sits in Rainbow Trust’s Head Office.
“We felt important at Rainbow House. That place was our sanctuary. We had time with mum, we could all just stop.”
Jo is now married with two children, is working part time for a borough council, is studying to become a Therapeutic Counsellor and still loves being creative through dress making and crafts.
There are so many families like Jo's, that may be feeling so helplessly alone and desperate, who need this specialist support. Please donate today to help us support more families like Jo's.