A family turned upside down by cancer concluded a precious five-day getaway yesterday as part of a new respite scheme launched by a Moray children’s charity.
For two-year-old Eileidh Paterson and her loved ones, opportunities to spend time together as a “normal family” have been scarce since she was diagnosed with High Risk Neuroblastoma in May.
Over the last four months, essential surgery, stem cell harvest and eight rounds of chemotherapy have seen Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital become home for Eileidh, her mum, Gail and her dad.
During that time, Eileidh’s 17-year-old brother, Callum, has had to take responsibility for younger sister, Cerys, and the running of their home near Aberchirder.
However, the family were able to spend some quality time together away from hospitals or stress thanks to Logan’s Fund and their newly launched Logan’s Sunny Days programme at Lossiemouth Bay Caravan Park.
Eileidh’s mum, Gail Paterson, is originally from Elgin and she said yesterday that she felt like the luckiest person in the world being back in Moray.
“It’s been brilliant. It’s hard to describe. It’s like being a normal family. It’s the first time we’ve all been together since she went to hospital on May 9,” she said.
“We didn’t know until a few days before if the doctors were going to let us come, but they said yes because we were only six miles from Dr Grays.
“It’s just been us as a family, enjoying the simple things and it’s been fantastic.
“Not to mention the amazing things that have been organised for us by the wonderful people from Logan’s Fund.
“And Eileidh has loved it. She never stopped smiling. She was just so happy and she’s been treated like a princess. It’s the happiest she’s been in a long time.”
Logan’s Fund chairman, Cameron MacIntosh, said: “We’ve done a few respite trips for families over the last few years, but we came up with the idea of bringing families to us as we live in a beautiful part of the country, with the brilliant support of Lossiemouth Bay Caravan Park.
“Eileidh and her family were our first guests and they have been blown away by the whole experience.”