Roberta’s Skydive for the Liver Support Group
We would like to thank Roberta Armstrong for the skydive she undertook recently in support of the Group. So far, Roberta has raised over £3000. Well done to you!!
A retirement gift kindly donated to LSG
After 44 years of working for the Western Health & Social Care Trust’s community dental team, Jennifer O’Brien presented her retirement gift from her colleagues to the RVH Liver Support Group. Our thanks go to Jennifer for her generosity. Pictured are (L-R) Kay Duffy, Founder of the RVH Liver Support Group; Jennifer O’Brien and Grainne Quinn, Manager & Clinical Director.
Former employees of Wrightbus make a generous donation….
A very generous donation of £2,100 was received from the Trustees of the former employees of the old Wrightbus Company in Ballymena to help further support liver patients accross Northern Ireland.
(L-R) Michael Cathcart, Robbie Herron, Uel Bamber (liver transplant recipient), Geoff Wylie and LSG Chairman Jim Kilpatrick.
COVID-19 Vaccination Update
For everyone invited so far to attend the Royal site for their Covid-19 vaccination, please find opposite a site map to help you find the building being used. It is located on the main car park access road, and is shown with a green ‘X’ on the map. Please allow plenty of time before your appointment time as it is likely there will be lengthy car park queues as the day progresses.
***please bring id with you***
Residential Weekend at the Lisnaskea Share Centre
A residential weekend held at The Share Centre in Lisnaskea on the weekend of 14th to 15th September 2019 and attended by 11 families and 3 committee members.
An afternoon of activity on and beside Upper Lough Erne on Saturday helped create a strong dynamic amongst the people attending, some of whom were meeting for the first time. This dynamic was crucial for the open and honest sharing of advice and experience that developed informally throughout the weekend and for a powerful formal discussion on Sunday morning in which parents spoke of different aspects of caring – the impact of a child’s illness on other siblings; transition from children’s to adults’ services; and the fact that liver disease is often linked with other debilitating conditions. The session was sensitively chaired by Rachel and there was a palpable sense of eased concerns and mutual reassurance when it ended. Visitors’ evaluation of the weekend was very positive.
Remembrance and Thanksgiving Service…..(text only)
Service in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh
Every three years the Organ Donation Services Team in Northern Ireland (NHSBT) hosts a Service to pay tribute to those people who, after their death, donated organs for transplantation, and for the families who made the generous decision to carry out their wishes.
This service will be taking place on Sunday 8th September 2019 at 3 pm in St Patrick’s RC Cathedral Armagh. This is a non-denominational service of thanksgiving and remembrance. The event is arranged this year to coincide with the close of “Organ Donation Week” which runs from 3 – 8 September 2019.
During the service members of donor families and transplant recipients will be invited to take part in an act of remembrance and thanksgiving. This will involve transplant recipients coming forward to leave a candle tribute. Once transplant recipients have returned to their seat, a representative from each donor family will be asked to come forward to receive a candle tribute. The candles will be provided and will be given to the recipients on arrival.
If you would like to attend the service, please send the following details to the below address by 18th August 2019:
Your name and the number of family/ friends who will be attending the Service, how many (if any) who will be staying for refreshments and your postal address.
Please also indicate the nature of your involvement e.g. Donor Family/ Transplant recipient or family member/ Staff/ Other/ Patient awaiting transplant or family member
Address: NHSBT, Organ Donation Services, 12a Clarendon Road, Clarendon Dock, Belfast, BT1 3BG.
If you have any questions regarding the service, please contact NHSBT on 0300 123 1208
Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Synod Hall beside the Cathedral.
Parking will be available free of charge in the grounds of the Cathedral and also St Patrick’s school which is in close proximity.
Hopefully see you there!
Family party at the Olympia (text only)
The RVH Liver Support Group funded and hosted a party for families of children with liver conditions at the Olympia Leisure Centre in Belfast on Saturday 27th April.
48 children and 38 adults were there, as well as Tracey (lead specialist gastro-nurse), Stacey, (specialist gastro-nurse), Paul (gastrostomy nurse) and Janine (dietitian). The Support Group was represented by Rachel, Lucia, Donald and Jennifer, who had organised the day following a request from the nursing team in January for an event to celebrate the courage and resilience of families.
The day started calmly enough with registration, tea, coffee, juice, scones and very large cookies! However, the bouncy castle was soon a hive of vigorous activity involving a number of children and one particularly energetic nurse. Louis the magician then arrived and kept his audience well entertained until lunchtime. After lunch Louis drew caricatures for a long queue of adults and children, as the bouncy castle continued to heave, some of the children played football, others coloured in and built Lego. Meanwhile the big people shared stories and reflections all round the room. As Paul said at the end: ‘It’s brilliant to see families and kids just being normal.’
Our thanks to all the Olympia staff for a great venue, an excellent lunch and for making us so welcome.
We are already looking forward to meeting families again at the Share Centre, Lisnaskea, on 14th/15th September. Details of this weekend will be sent out in early June. Spaces limited – so book early!
October Members’ Meeting
MEMBERS’ MEETING
A members’ meeting will be held on Thursday 18th October 2018 in the Samuel Irwin Lecture Theatre Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast
The theme for the evening is:Looking After Body and mind
Guest speakers:
Dr. Conor Braniff Consultant Hepatologist
Dr. Geraldine Carroll Hepatologist Ambulatory Care
Dr. Andrea Corry Consultant Dermatologist
Dr. Susie Willis Child Psychologist
Light refreshments from 7 p.m. The meeting begins at 7.30 p.m.
All members, relatives and friends will be made very welcome.
For further information, please contact:
Sharon Millen (Chairperson) 07771 855171
Donald Cairnduff (Secretary) 07701 029347
