Samuel

Age 13

Helen & Douglas House - hospice care for children and young adults

"A colourful friendship"

Hi, my name is Samuel and I am 13 years old. I live with my mum and my younger brother Andrew. I have the condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy and I use a wheelchair to get around. I sometimes stay at Helen House Children's Hospice in Oxford.

I enjoy playing games on the PC, going on the internet and watching football. I go horse riding every week with the Riding for the Disabled Association, which I love. I have been going there for about seven years and the horse I ride is called Speckles.

I really look forward to coming to Helen House because I get to have a rest! I get to go into the spa and use the sensory room to chill out in. I went to an adolescent weekend, where I met other boys my age with the same condition as me. I have made lots of new friends at Helen House and feel a little more confident and able to talk to the carers if I'm feeling down.

My picture is about my best friend Liam, also 12 years old. I have known Liam all my life. He helps and supports me when he can. If I get upset and cry, Liam calms me down and cheers me up. We have loads of fun playing together, attending our local Scout group and going to the same school. We also do lots of things together like playing football in the garden, watching TV and playing on our computer games. Liam also comes for sleepovers which are brilliant!

I did my picture this way to show the different moods we both experience and I would sum it up as ‘a colourful friendship.

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. It measures 450mm wide, by 570mm high.