bargainqueen
21-10-2007, 21:08
My great niece Jasmine was recently taken on the annual trip organised by taxi drivers for children who have a serious illness.
The first weekend in October a convoy of 97 taxi's started at Canary Wharf and after a breakfast in the ground floor of a local business they set off with a police escort, ambulance, AA van plus AA recovery truck.
In each taxi was a maximum of 3 people, nominated child, parent and one sibling up to age 15. Jasmine's brother didn't want to go so one of the doctor's joined her and my niece.
Everyone was given a packed lunch to eat on the ferry and each child was given an envelope containing 30euros.
One of the taxi drivers had a Mickey Mouse shaved into the back of his head although Jasmine insists it was Minnie Mouse who I think might be her favourite charector.
Only one child became ill on the trip and that was quickly dealt with by the accompanying doctor's. No child is allowed to go if they are still undergoing a specialised treatment, most are still undergoing chemo but not intensively.
Everyone enjoyed the trip especially the breakfast's in France, all the children were tucking into the cold meats. Chemo changes their taste buds and they eat the strangest things. Jasmine's favourite at the moment is Salami and if she has a McDonald's she has extra gherkin which she calls dirty cucumber.
The only down side were the comments they were getting from other people because of the preferential treatment the children were getting. No one looking at Jasmine would know just how ill she has been this last two years, only a couple of the children had lost their hair and two more were on oxygen.
This is the 14th year of the event and Steve Jasmine's taxi driver has been doing it for the last 12. He was having a day off on the Monday after they returned and then they would begin the organisation for next years trip.
Jasmine believes she is going again next year but if all goes well then starting 28th December they will begin to wean her off all the chemo and other medicines she currently takes.
She is the star patient at Gt Ormand St and her local hospital at Barnet. They will often use her to calm another child who is frightened, not bad for someone who is 5 and starts big school in a week's time.
The first weekend in October a convoy of 97 taxi's started at Canary Wharf and after a breakfast in the ground floor of a local business they set off with a police escort, ambulance, AA van plus AA recovery truck.
In each taxi was a maximum of 3 people, nominated child, parent and one sibling up to age 15. Jasmine's brother didn't want to go so one of the doctor's joined her and my niece.
Everyone was given a packed lunch to eat on the ferry and each child was given an envelope containing 30euros.
One of the taxi drivers had a Mickey Mouse shaved into the back of his head although Jasmine insists it was Minnie Mouse who I think might be her favourite charector.
Only one child became ill on the trip and that was quickly dealt with by the accompanying doctor's. No child is allowed to go if they are still undergoing a specialised treatment, most are still undergoing chemo but not intensively.
Everyone enjoyed the trip especially the breakfast's in France, all the children were tucking into the cold meats. Chemo changes their taste buds and they eat the strangest things. Jasmine's favourite at the moment is Salami and if she has a McDonald's she has extra gherkin which she calls dirty cucumber.
The only down side were the comments they were getting from other people because of the preferential treatment the children were getting. No one looking at Jasmine would know just how ill she has been this last two years, only a couple of the children had lost their hair and two more were on oxygen.
This is the 14th year of the event and Steve Jasmine's taxi driver has been doing it for the last 12. He was having a day off on the Monday after they returned and then they would begin the organisation for next years trip.
Jasmine believes she is going again next year but if all goes well then starting 28th December they will begin to wean her off all the chemo and other medicines she currently takes.
She is the star patient at Gt Ormand St and her local hospital at Barnet. They will often use her to calm another child who is frightened, not bad for someone who is 5 and starts big school in a week's time.