I've created this page in memory of a loved one.
Emma’s Gift Box - Art & Craft Supplies for Oncology Patients
Emma was an oncology patient at the Mater Hospital and we’d like to explain how the idea of ‘Emma’s Gift Box’ came into being.
Before her passing, Emma spent many weeks as an inpatient in the Mater.
During one of Emma’s conversations with the Mater’s Senior Psychologist, Dr Sinéad Lynch - Sinéad asked Emma if she felt that there was anything that the hospital could do to make things easier for patients in a similar position to her.
Emma explained to Sinéad that she found being engaged with her hobbies helped her to both fill her time and to cope with the reality of her terminal illness.
It was Emma’s wish that other patients would have access to materials that would give them the same opportunity to become engrossed in similar hobbies.
The Gift Box
Sinéad caught Emma’s vision and ‘Emma’s Gift Box’ became a reality shortly after her passing.
Since then the gift box has been stocked with a myriad of supplies and art materials such as paint, canvasses, knitting needles, wool, mouth organs and more… and the staff constantly review what is possible.
These supplies are distributed when requested to patients in St Vincent’s Ward by the nursing staff on duty.
Given the potential for infection and the low immunity of some patients - for hygiene purposes - materials are only used once and then need to be replenished.
This also means that it is not always practical to receive donated materials. Therefore having a fund that allows the relevant nursing staff to replenish the materials is most beneficial for patients. This fundraising page supports that fund.
Emma was a multi-talented young woman. She was a classically trained pianist and she had just begun her career as a primary school teacher.
Not having access to a piano, Emma spent many hours engrossed in her other hobbies such as Arts, Crafts, Crosswords, Sudoku, Embroidery, Cross-stitch and Knitting.
Emma said that she found solace and was able to ‘lose herself’. She became so deeply engrossed with her hobbies that it allowed her space and time to concentrate on something other than her medical treatments and procedures.
We hope ‘Emma’s Gift Box’ can continue to provide that solace for other patients.
Thank you for your generosity,
Jackie
