Chesterfield family thank Sick Children's Trust after '˜home from home' support with little Imogen

Zoe and Dale Jackson, both 37 and from Newbold, were supported at The Sick Children’s Trust’s Eckersley House when their daughter Imogen required major surgery on the right-hand side of her body.

In 2014, Imogen was born with a rare condition known as Poland Syndrome, which is characterised by the webbing of the fingers and underdevelopment of chest muscle.

Imogen had to undergo surgery at Leeds Children’s Hospital – 90 minutes away from home. During her time in hospital, Imogen’s parents were never more than a few minutes from her side as they were given free accommodation at Eckersley House.

This year, Eckersley House is celebrating 25 years of supporting families with seriously ill children in Leeds.

Mum Zoe, a sports coach, said: “My family have been supported twice at Eckersley House and unless you’ve ever been in the situation when your child is seriously ill in hospital, you’ll never know the weight that is lifted by being given free accommodation.”

Zoe added: “It’s very draining when you have a poorly child in hospital, but having a place like Eckersley House makes it so much easier. You don’t realise what it’s like to have a child in hospital, and all the difficulties that come with it until it happens. You don’t realise the strain and stresses it puts on you. Imogen is doing really well now and just started school this year. She has even done a little talk to all the other children about how everyone is different and how she’s a big brave girl having had two operations. She’s amazing.”

For more information, visit www.sickchildrenstrust.org/