William Young-Dagg is five years old and visits Butterwick Children’s Hospice in Durham. He’s a very bright little boy with a happy nature. He is one of five children and loves to spend his time at the hospice interacting with his favourite programmes and games on the large touch screen monitor and the iPad that is loaded with colourful interactive programmes.

William is unable to speak but his fingers move like lightening as he gives instructions on the screen. He copies some of the movements of the games characters and clearly loves being in control of the characters on the screen. All of these special assisted technologies at the hospice were provided by the charity Lifelites.

William loves the interaction between him and the staff as they work through special programmes together. They enjoy the stories the interactive programmes offer and often dance to the music. As the care team member opens each programme William’s task is to make the characters interact and carry out the actions he wants them to do just at the right moment.

The fun that William has interacting with the care team and the computer helps to build good therapeutic relationships. Although William is unable to speak he is able to let the care team members know what he wants to play with whenever he visits and it is always the computer or iPad that he loves most.

Helen McIntyre is a nurse at Butterwick who regularly helps William to enjoy playing with the computer. She told us: “William enjoys lots of programmes and interactive games such as Chalkboard, Painting programmes, Pokemon and Bob the Builder. It makes such a difference to the time he spends at the hospice.”

Evan is three years old and is classed as a SWAN, meaning he has a syndrome without a name. Evan is severely delayed in all areas of his development and is unable to sit up, walk or roll, and unable to communicate verbally. But the Lifelites-donated Mobile Magic Carpet enables Evan to play, control something himself!

Little Madison has Down syndrome, a chronic lung disease, is oxygen dependent, and has a weak immune system. She cannot eat food orally but has to use a flexible feeding tube instead. She also has sight problems, might need hearing aids and as a one-year-old, she already had open heart surgery. But with our  donated Mobile Magic Carpet, she can comfortably move around, explore bright lights and play with the moving bubbles around her. For some time, she can escape the confines of her conditions.

Two year old Noah has a degenerative condition which makes movement very difficult, but the staff at his local children’s hospice are able to use the donated Lifelites technology to encourage him to move through fun and play, helping him to stay active for as long as possible. 

Eleven-year-old John Junior (JJ) used to be a lively young boy, able to explore the world and attend a mainstream school. But then he was diagnosed with ALD, cerebral x-lined adrenoleukodystrophy, meaning he suddenly lost his ability to walk or talk.

Alex had a brain tumour when he was six years old. After his surgery, he received extensive chemo and radio therapy. He spent three months in isolation when his stem cells were replaced and he initially recovered well. A year later, he relapsed and was given palliative diagnosis. But to the huge delight of his family and friends, his conditions very slowly improved again and is spreading joy with his lovely, bubbly personality!  

A brain tumour at the age of six left Heavenly with a number of disabilities, but the equipment provided by Lifelites has opened up a whole new world to her.

Troy has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 2 which is a genetic neuromuscular disorder that affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles. Troy needs to sit in a wheelchair and has difficulties moving his hands and arms. He often gets frustrated because of all the limitations he faces every day. But the Lifelites-donated Switches allowed him to bake cakes for his family, he is so proud of himself and now wants to bake all the time! 

Seven year old Samuel has cerebral palsy and is a regular visitor to Acorns for the Three Counties in Worcester.

Brothers Thomas and Connor, aged 9 and 6, were born with life limiting complex congenital heart disease. Each has only half a heart.

Six year old Lois Russell who suffers from severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy and epilepsy was one of the first to try out the technology when Lifelites visited Keech Hospice Care in Luton.

Our technology enhances the lives of thousands of terminally ill and disabled children and young people across the British Isles every day. One of those very special people is Craig.

Nine year old Megan Farrell from Middlesbrough has been attending Butterwick House for three years for short breaks so that her mum, dad and sister can take a little time off from their caring responsibilities. 

Josh is a frequent visitor to Each Anglia Children’s Hospice in Cambridge and a very enthusiastic gamer.