Olivia

Age 6

Ty Hafan – the family hospice for young lives

"Bampy"

Olivia is six years old and lives in Cardiff with her mum Leanne, dad Stephen and older brother Callum. Olivia has been coming for short breaks at Tŷ Hafan for a number of years now, has benefitted from the Outreach Play Service during that time and is wonderful at engaging people with her bright, happy smile. Olivia always enjoys being able to let people know what she wants to do - whether it is using the multi-sensory room, being tickled, listening to music or stories, going in the Jacuzzi; she does not like being ignored!

Olivia has cerebral palsy, visual impairment and physical delay, but that doesn't stop her being a sociable young lady who enjoys interacting with those around her by chatting and cuddling. She has an electric wheelchair to get around in, which she is learning to control with a head switch. Switches also help her to communicate with people; this is how she composed her picture. We asked Olivia to tell us who her hero was by indicating ‘yes' or ‘no' on her switch. After a while she was able to tell us that it was her grandfather (Bampy), who sadly had died, but had been very close to Olivia; she adored him. Then, using the switches again and offering her a choice of colours she could decide how to paint her picture using finger paint brushes. Finally she used lots of pretty, shiny stars, as her Bampy is up in the sky.

Please note this case study (images and copy) must not be used or replicated in any other form without prior consent from Children's Hospices UK. 

This artwork is framed in a white wood frame. The artwork measures 520mm wide, by 440mm high.