When kindness creates precious moments for seriously ill children and their families to simply bask in awesome wonder and joy.
As one of Rachel House’s programs, One Fine Day is all about creating a day filled with joy and wonder for seriously-ill children, through experiences they can enjoy with their families – particularly for many whose everyday lives have been shaped by the challenges of their illness.
Last week, under the watchful eyes of our nurses, 24 children living with serious illnesses had the opportunity to spend a day at the Jakarta AQuarium & Safari (JAQS). Joining them on this day of discovery were their siblings and parents, creating precious memories of discovering marine life and watching the colourful shows at JAQS.
A Day of Awe & Wonder
As the children moved from one underwater display to another, we heard squeals of “oohh’s” and “ahhhs”, their eyes peeled wide as they feasted on the colourful marine life swimming in the bluest of waters. With different sections and habitats to explore, every turn brought something new for them to discover and learn.
Among the highlights of the day were the live shows – The Mermaid Show – an imaginative and cinematic performance combining storytelling and live underwater performance that brought the mythical world of mermaids to life right before the children’s eyes.
They then met Renzo at the Fur Seal Show, a cute, lively, and full-of-personality fur seal who stole their hearts and brought loud cheers and laughter in the room with his sleek movements, as he swam and jumped around, entertaining the children.
The day was filled with so much joy that it was hard to say goodbye. It is not every day that these seriously-ill children can be at the centre of an experience created especially for them, let alone enjoy it alongside their beloved families.
Sasha, the older sister of one of our patients, describes the experience:
“It was such a fun and memorable experience for us, seeing marine life and learning so many new things in such an enjoyable way! I am so happy to be able to spend time with my sister playing and enjoying our time together, and exploring so many new things. It was really special.”
A Truly Memorable Day
All the children had a wonderful time at One Fine Day. But perhaps for some, the day meant something a little more.
For 13-year-old Rendy who had grown tired of taking his prescribed medicines, it was a day that buoyed his spirits that hopefully gave him courage and determination to continue fighting.
Another child whose enthusiasm really shone through was Kevin, our 12-year-old boy whose illness had robbed him of his vision.
At JAQS, a dedicated nurse was appointed to accompany Kevin, describing to him in detail each point of interest and what was in front of him so he could imagine and experience the surroundings without feeling left out. The nurse also carefully guided his hands so he could touch some of the animals that were safe to touch, including snakes, lizards, starfish, and sharks.
Then there was 18-year old Gideon with osteosarcoma (bone cancer), navigating the day in his wheelchair with his sister by his side. They both had a fabulously joyful day together. Gideon was so excited that he did not even need to take a single pain medication during the entire visit.
And that is how One Fine Day can create a meaningful impact on children’s lives.
Supporting Children Beyond Their Illness
To understand just how much One Fine Day meant for our children, we need to look beyond their health conditions. Almost all of them come from underserved families, where parents have to constantly struggle to meet their daily needs, sometimes even the most basic ones, like putting food on the table.
For these families, a visit to a place like JAQS would ordinarily be out of reach. This simple fact reminds us that for some children, an experience as ordinary as visiting an aquarium can be something truly precious.
While the visit to JAQS did not remove the challenges that these children and families face, it gave them a day where they could focus on simply being together, to discover something new, and create special memories with the people closest to them.
For 24 children and their families, this day of discovery became a special part of their lives.
As seven years old Andini, said:
“I am so happy to be invited to join this outing, especially as my brother and mother could come along! I loved the Mermaid show, seeing the underwater performance for real! I felt so safe and cared for by the (Rachel House) nurse who was always around. I love the place and the food! Thank you so much to everyone!”
Let’s Create More Days Like This
One Fine Day reminds us all that seriously-ill children deserve opportunities to experience the magical world of wonder around them, spend time with their families, and enjoy precious moments of childhood.
Watch how one day becomes a beautiful adventure: Instagram
And you too can help bring joy and create more days like this. Whether by hosting an outing for the children, creating an activity together, volunteering your time, or supporting programs that bring joyful experiences to the seriously ill children and their families.
Together, we can create more opportunities for the children to discover, explore, and make special memories with the people they love.
Get in touch with us at [email protected] or call +62 851-8318-9659 to make a One Fine Day possible for seriously-ill children.