May 26th 2024.
The staff at Phoenix's care facility always made sure to take care of every aspect of his well-being. Sarah Sea, a devoted mother of two, holds a special place in her heart for a particular memory from a family vacation in Spain. She fondly recalls waking up early one morning and taking a leisurely stroll to the beach with her two sons to watch the sunrise over the vast ocean. For her youngest, Phoenix, being by the sea was his ultimate happy place. However, life had thrown a curveball at this family when he was diagnosed with Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy at just 18 months old. The doctor's grim prognosis warned Sarah that her little boy might not live to see his tenth birthday.
This news shook Sarah to her core. Although she had noticed a few concerning symptoms, she never imagined the severity of her son's condition. In an effort to process this devastating diagnosis, Sarah decided to take her sons on a trip to Lanzarote. Phoenix's condition had not deteriorated too much at that point, and he was still small enough for Sarah to carry easily. This would be a much-needed break for the family to spend quality time together and digest the news. However, as the weeks and months went by, Sarah could only watch helplessly as her toddler lost the skills he had only just started to develop, such as walking, toileting, eating solid foods, and talking.
The following year, Sarah planned another holiday for her and her two boys. By then, Phoenix was three years old, and his older brother was nine. However, this trip would require a lot more preparation and equipment as Phoenix was no longer able to stand or keep his head upright. Along with the usual vacation essentials like sunscreen and swimsuits, Sarah had to pack a food blender, neck support, a specialized stroller, oxygen canisters, and a plethora of other medical equipment. As a single mother, the responsibility of caring for her son 24/7, while also lugging around all the necessary equipment, fell solely on Sarah's shoulders.
"I was trying to be a mom while also dealing with all the pressure," Sarah shares with Metro. "Being with my boys was exciting, but it was also heartbreaking because of Phoenix's diagnosis. I was coming to terms with the fact that he was dying. I felt a sense of urgency to make the most of our time together and create lasting memories. But at the same time, I was overwhelmed with all the responsibilities. I couldn't leave him alone for a moment."
The week-long holiday turned out to be anything but relaxing for Sarah and her sons. When they returned home, she made the heartbreaking decision not to take another similar trip in the future. Unfortunately, this is a decision that many families across the UK are forced to make every year. These families are in desperate need of a break, but they lack the means and support to make it happen. However, what many are not aware of is that there are sectors within the travel industry that are working tirelessly to help them.
Supported by well-known figures like TV presenter Jennie Bond, MP Penny Mordaunt, and even The Princess Royal, hoteliers are joining hands to offer free accommodation to deserving families. For hotels located outside of the UK, they partner with charities that provide grants or directly pay for flights for these families. One such hotel group is Idiliq Hotels and Resorts, through their Kind Holidays initiative. Their website provides a step-by-step guide for other hoteliers to follow their lead and includes links to UK charities that are looking for free accommodation both domestically and abroad.
"These holidays provide families with the chance to create happy memories together before their loved one passes away," explains Grant Peires, Director of Communications for IDILIQ Hotels & Resorts. "It allows them to escape the hospital and treatments, even if it's just for a short while. For those who have recently lost a child, parent, or sibling, it gives them a chance to find solace and take some time to remember their loved one. It can be a lifeline for these families, a chance to step back from the darkness and start afresh, letting go of the traumatic events that haunt them."
Peires further shares that at the end of June each year, they reach out to the charities they work with to inquire about their preferred time of the year, the size of accommodation required, and preferred locations for families for the following year. They also take into consideration if any potential guests have accessibility needs or require wheelchair-friendly units. Based on these factors, they allocate space at their resorts, where available. So far, IDILIQ has helped around 300 families, including Sarah's.
Five years after her overwhelming holiday to Lanzarote, Sarah attended a charity event where she spoke about the importance and cost of equipment for children with disabilities. It was at this event that she met a representative from Idiliq, who offered to send her family on holiday for free. "We were going through a tough time financially at that point," Sarah reminisces. "We had just made some adaptations to our home and had to buy a lot of new equipment, so we were in a lot of debt."
The following summer, Sarah and her two boys packed their bags for a two-week, fully-funded holiday in Spain. By then, Phoenix's condition had worsened, and he required around-the-clock care and was on oxygen at all times. He was also unable to move on his own. Just getting to the airport was a challenge, but the family was greeted by three concierges who helped carry all of Phoenix's equipment. Upon arrival at their apartment, they were delighted to find a path that had been specially adapted for Phoenix's needs.
The hotel staff took care of every aspect of Phoenix's care during their stay, allowing Sarah to relax and spend quality time with her sons. The family was able to create some precious memories together, free from the stress and worries of home. Thanks to the kind gestures of hoteliers like those at Idiliq, families like Sarah's are given the opportunity to make the most of their time together, creating unforgettable moments that will be cherished forever.
The staff at Phoenix's care facility took care of every little detail, making sure he was comfortable and well taken care of. Sarah, a single mother, fondly remembers a special memory from a holiday in Spain with her two sons. The family woke up early one morning and made their way to the beach to watch the sunrise over the ocean. Sarah recalls how much her youngest son, Phoenix, loved being by the sea. It was his happy place.
Sadly, Phoenix was diagnosed with Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy at just 18 months old. Sarah was warned that this rare disease could mean her little boy may not live to see his 10th birthday. This news was shocking to Sarah, as she had noticed a few concerning symptoms, but never expected such a serious diagnosis. In order to digest the news together, Sarah decided to take her sons on a trip to Lanzarote. Phoenix was still small enough that Sarah could easily carry him, and he hadn't deteriorated too much at that point.
However, as time went on, Sarah could only watch as her little boy began to lose the skills he had just recently learned, such as walking, using the toilet, eating solid foods, and talking. The following year, Sarah planned another much-needed holiday for her family. But this time, Phoenix required a lot of equipment, as he was no longer able to stand or hold his head upright. Sarah had to add a food blender, a neck support, a specialized pram, oxygen tanks, and various other medical equipment to their packing list, alongside the usual sunscreen and swimsuits.
"It was all on me," Sarah recalls, thinking back to the week of lugging around both luggage and medical equipment, all while taking care of her son 24/7. "I was trying to be a mom while also dealing with all the pressure. It was bittersweet being with my boys, knowing about Phoenix's diagnosis. I was processing the fact that he was dying. I felt panicked and wanted to make the best memories we could. But at the same time, I was completely overwhelmed. I couldn't leave him alone for even a minute."
The week-long holiday was anything but relaxing, and when the family returned home, Sarah made the heartbreaking decision not to take another similar holiday again. Unfortunately, this is a decision that many families across the UK are forced to make every year. They desperately need a break and some time to escape, but they lack the resources and support to do so. However, what many people don't realize is that there are sectors in the travel industry that are working hard to help these families.
Thanks to initiatives supported by various public figures, such as TV presenter Jennie Bond, MP Penny Mordaunt, and even The Princess Royal, some hoteliers are generously donating their rooms and suites free of charge to deserving families. If the hotels are located outside of the UK, they partner with charities that provide grants or directly pay for flights for these families. Idiliq Hotels and Resorts is one of these hotel groups, and they do this through their Kind Holidays initiative. Their website offers a step-by-step guide for other hoteliers who want to implement a similar program, as well as links to UK charities that are looking for free accommodation, both within the UK and abroad.
Grant Peires, Director of Communications for IDILIQ Hotels & Resorts, explains the impact of these holidays on families. "For many families, these holidays provide a chance to make their last happy memories together before their loved one passes away," he says. "It gives them a chance to escape from hospitals and treatments, and it allows those who have recently lost a child, parent, or sibling to find some solace and remember their loved one. It can be a lifeline, a chance to step back from the darkness, and an opportunity to reset and let go of the traumatic events that haunt so many of our heroes."
Each year in June, the hotel group contacts the charities they work with to inquire about their preferred time of year, desired accommodation size, and preferred locations for families for the following year. They also take into consideration any special needs, such as wheelchair accessibility. Then, they allocate space at the relevant resorts, if available. So far, Idiliq has helped around 300 families, including Sarah's.
Five years after her overwhelming holiday in Lanzarote, Sarah attended a charity event where she spoke about the importance and cost of equipment for children with special needs. At her table, she met a representative from Idiliq, who offered to send her family on holiday for free. "We were in a tough situation at the time," Sarah recalls. "We had just made adaptations to our house and had to buy a lot of new equipment, so I was in a lot of debt."
The following summer, Sarah and her two boys gathered everything they needed for a two-week, fully-funded holiday in Spain. By this point, Phoenix needed around-the-clock care, was constantly on oxygen, and unable to move at all. Just getting to the airport was a challenge, but the family was met by three concierges who helped carry all of Phoenix's equipment. When they arrived at their apartment, they were greeted by a path that had been specially adapted for Phoenix's needs.
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