About Zöe's Place Baby Hospice

'Zöe' in Greek means 'Gift of Life'

Zöe's Baby Hospice was a new project, it was unique, the first in the country specifically for babies with multiple special needs. Zöe in Greek means Gift of Life, an appropriate name for our non-denominational and multi-cultural Hospice, as all our babies come to Zöe's to live 'life' to the full. The babies that come through our doors have varying conditions, Multiple Special Needs. They are all very special, bringing with them joy, laughter, love, they are all individual's all little human beings. Each of our babies brings with them a new learning process for all of us and most importantly the gifts of humility, pride and admiration.

People cannot begin to understand what families undergo from that dreaded day when a Doctor confirms their worst fears. That there is something medically or physically wrong with their newborn baby is devastating and hard to comprehend. Happiness is stripped from them. All that is left is a feeling of numbness, shock and disbelief. Questions, of why? how? run through their minds. There is blame, guilt a jungle of mixed emotions, life can never be the same again. Medical facts then become a reality for such families. Appointments for hospital visits are made, tests begin, but there are no solutions to make things better, no magic wand to eradicate the problem. Life takes on a new and frightening meaning, normal life ends!

Although we are a Baby Hospice, which can conjure up thoughts in people's minds of dying and sorrow, Zöe's is not like this. All our babies come here to live. Yes, we do have sad times, but the happy times outweigh them by far.

Zöe's is a place full of laughter, fun and love, and any tears that might be shed are usually tears of joy. Never more so than when one of our special babies achieves something that they have never done before, whether it is holding a toy, raising their head, or making distinct noises in response to something or someone. This may sound trivial to some people, but for parents and ourselves, it is progress.

Our special babies come to Zöe's to live life to the full. We care for our babies in the same way as one would care for any able bodied baby. We do not wrap them in cotton wool. None of us know how long we are going to live, so we put into each day as much as we can, through play, touch and stimulation, making everything we do as much fun as possible. The babies can all communicate to us in many different ways, no matter how severe their disabilities. We provide a loving, supportive environment for babies and families, ensuring that pain and other symptoms which can cause acute distress and anxiety are controlled or prevented. Following any contact with Zöe's, help is always available to the families.

To find out more about fundraising for the Midlands Baby Hospice, contact Vicki:

Phone: 01926 834642

email: vicki@zoesplacemidlands.org.uk