Christmas reindeers bring deer-light to UHNM children

Oh deer! It's not every day the corridors of Royal Stoke University Hospital are graced by any four-legged friends but two reindeers took time from preparing for their vital role in the Christmas Calen-deer to visit the Children's Department.

Prancer and Dancer from Amerton Farm, near Stafford visited children in the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Children's Wards to bring some Christmas joy to its younger patients and families.

Alex Flint, of Amerton Farm, brought the reindeer to visit the hospital after his daughter Edith was cared for in PICU earlier this year.

He said: "Amerton Farm is a family run business and we are proud of the relationship we have with our staff and visitors and take every opportunity we can to give back.

"At the start of the year Edith was born weighing 7.15lb. Sadly, three days after she was born she contracted sepsis and bacterial meningitis. The emergency services were called and they sent Edith to A&E at the Royal Stoke. She was assessed, saved and sent to PICU."

He added: "Edith was critical for seven days and it was an extremely trying time, however, the love and support we were shown from the staff who helped save Edith, keep her safe and help recover was far beyond anything we could imagine. This is not just a job, you are heroes. We will forever be in your debt."

Emma Biddulph, Play Specialist at UHNM, said: "We always try to make Christmas as special as possible for our children and have lots happening ranging from visits from Santa and the panto cast from the Regent but this is the first time we have been visited by Santa's real-life helpers.

"We were thrilled when Alex contacted us and asked if he could bring the reindeer along and the children loved getting up and close to them."