Rose O’Leary-Hall passed away in September 2023 aged just four, following a series of surgeries and treatments for the ultra-rare congenital condition Interrupted Aortic Arch, which affects only one in 50,000 babies.
Rose’s parents Sue and Katie, wanted to give something back to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and their idea of ‘Rose’s Library’ came to life.
Rose loved books and being read to, and her favourite stories made her many stays in hospital more bearable.
Going forward, Katie and Sue have teamed up with Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) to provide Kindles and stories which children on the ward can read or be read to.
Physical books are not allowed to be read and re-used within the wards at the LCHU due to infection prevention, therefore, it was decided that Rose’s family would raise funds to provide a Kindle for each bedside.
Sue said: “A book is an escape, a chance to go into a different world for a short while, and it not only takes the child’s mind off being in hospital, it’s an escape for the parents as well, to spend a short time reading with their child.”
Sue and Katie began fundraising with friends and family, and local press also covered their story and donations towards books and specific stories started to flood in.
Throughout 2024 various fundraisers were held for Rose’s Library and significant donations were made, including; Leeds University holding their Staff Festival raising £900 and Jane Tomlinson’s Run for All charity donating £5,833.62. CHSF also agreed a grant towards the library.
CHSF Community Fundraiser Lauren Procter said:
“Sue, Katie and their network of funders have done an amazing job in bringing this wonderful project to fruition. Rose’s Library will make a huge difference to the wellbeing of patients and their families for years to come, and we are thrilled to see that Rose’s own story has inspired such a powerful and positive outcome.”
To help stock Rose’s Library, go to chsf.org.uk/donate-form and choose the amount you want to donate and let us know it’s for ‘Rose’s Library’. In the comments box you can also add the names of the books you would like the library to stock for you.
Katie added: “Rose loved stories and we know so many other children do, and it was one of the things that just took her mind off being in hospital for a short while. We hope that Rose’s Library will do the same for so many other children who have to stay in hospital. Rose would have loved the thought of it.”
Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) is the dedicated charity for any baby born with a heart defect in Yorkshire, The Humber, N.E. Lincolnshire and N. Derbyshire.
CHSF enables children, adults and families affected by congenital heart disease to live empowered lives, through family support and by fundraising for vital resources for the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and region.
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