Dear parent, dear carer,
If you are holding these cards, you may be somewhere you never expected to be.
A hospital ward. A waiting room. Another long night.
You want to help your child feel a little less frightened, a little less alone. But sometimes you're exhausted, overwhelmed, or simply don't know what to say.
I know that feeling.
My daughter has faced two diagnoses. Four years of treatment. Six years of our lives shaped by hospitals, appointments and the long journey between hospital and home.
I remember sitting beside her bed, wishing I could take away the pain, the fear and the uncertainty. Wanting so badly to help, and sometimes not knowing how.
That's why I created Hospital Joy Toolkit.
Twenty-six little cards, from A to Z. Each one offers a few gentle words, a simple activity, or a moment of imagination to share with your child.
They won't make the difficult days disappear. I wish they could.
But they can offer a way to begin when words are hard to find. A way for your child to express a feeling, make a choice, or simply enjoy a moment with you.
Because sometimes the most important thing we can offer our children isn't an answer.
It's a moment of connection.
I hope these cards bring you both a little comfort, a little courage, and perhaps even a moment of joy.
With love,
Yuliia Barsukova
Founder, Smile Optimistic Studio CIC
