Three year-old Isla Luhr found herself stuck in hospital when the snow came this week. Unable to play outside, the white stuff had to come to her – in her hospital bed at North Devon District Hospital.
Isla has been in hospital since boxing day, when an accident with a falling timber gate led to her needing traction for an injured leg.
Playworker Fran Greenaway of the hospital’s Caroline Thorpe Ward, where Isla is staying, went out into the ward’s outdoor play area and half built a snowman from the fresh snow.
Then Fran, together with the other staff and Isla’s Dad, Darrin, laid a tarpaulin around Isla’s bed and carried the snowman-in-progress indoors in a large tray. Armed with a few carrots, Isla, her Dad and Fran finished and decorated the special snowman together.
Darrin said: ‘Isla was quite worried that the snowman would melt. So when he was finished we took him back outside and built a bigger snowman to look after him’.
Isla’s Mum, Clare, said: ‘After a few days they wheeled Isla’s bed outside so that she could check the snowman was still OK.
‘Isla has been in two weeks now and it was nice for her to have a break and do something different. I’ve been very impressed with all of the nurses on the ward – and Fran’s been brilliant, coming in with something new to distract Isla every day’.
