Christmas is a special time of year, families are looking forward to some time off school and work, time to be together watch box sets and eat way too much chocolate. Fortunately for most, that is exactly what will happen. However there will be a number of families out there, who are dealing with the after effects of acquired brain injury.

Brain injury can happen in the blink of an eye, and has a devastating impact on the person who is injured and their family. Whether the brain injury was caused by accident or illness- children will face lengthy hospital stays. Those first few days after the child is injured can be very tough, parents rarely leave the hospital. Often taking shifts to be at the bedside, or at home with siblings.

In many cases children will be rushed to hospital in an ambulance, parents are generally either in the ambulance or will drop everything and rush to meet the ambulance at hospital once the call comes in. They have nothing with them, and during those first few long days and nights it is the small things that can make the biggest difference.

Following feedback from families, the Child Brain Injury Trust is launching a new project the Hospital Lifeline Packs, for parents who are facing a lengthy hospital stay as their child recovers from a brain injury. The Hospital Lifeline Packs contain information on the hospital itself, and some information on our service and how to get in touch. It will also contain vouchers for the family to buy food and drinks, a range of personal care items (such as a toothbrush, toothpaste and shower gel), a universal mobile phone charger, notepads and pens to take down all the information from specialists. When your life has been turned upside down this little things can make a big difference.

Each pack will cost around £60.00, if you would like to help provide a Hospital Lifeline Pack for a family visit our Just Giving page to donate here.