It is one month until what should have been Henry’s 8th Birthday. The last birthday he got to celebrate here with his friends and family was his 6th birthday. Last year was a numb blur and this year I want to do something to honour the time he spent at GOSH on treatment.

When Henry relapsed, he took going back to hospital in his stride and he was so much more confident with accepting lots of people coming into his personal space. However, I quickly realised that there was one thing that reminded him of the first time he was on cancer treatment and that was the smell of the alcohol wipes the staff use to ensure there is no risk of infection through the children’s ‘wigglies’ (their lines straight into their heart where all their medications are hooked up to). This smell would instantly transport him back to that time and he was quite traumatised by this and so I got to researching a solution.

I came up with the idea of a Scentsy Buddy Clip which is a small soft toy with a clip on the end so you can hang it wherever you like and take it wherever you go. Henry’s one was called Serra the Stegosaurus and the smell was Tropic Tango. All he had to do was hold the dinosaur up to his nose anytime his line was accessed, de-accessed, medication added or removed, bloods were taken etc, that way he didn’t get a whiff of the alcohol wipes. The buddy clip also helped when he was feeling nauseous too as the fresh smell was comforting for him.

When the nurses came round to Henry’s bed, they would ask to smell his dinosaur and they said what a great idea it was and that many of the children would benefit from having one of those as often the alcohol wipes are what set off their nausea during treatment.

My aim, in Henry’s honour, is to provide both Safari Ward, where Henry had his relapse treatment as an outpatient, and the inpatient wards of Elephant, Giraffe & Lion, where Henry underwent his first line treatment as an inpatient with as many Scentsy Buddy clips as possible so that we can help as many other children have a slightly more comfortable experience when undergoing cancer treatment.

The buddy clips come in a variety of smells and styles, there are animals, unicorns, Disney, Star Wars, rainbows, dinosaurs, frankensteins, spiders, snowman, ragdolls, cactuses, so there is something to suit all ages and likes. I will also be purchasing small ‘bitty buddies’ especially for the younger patients to cuddle and smell which come in chicks, lambs and bunnies.

All money donated will go towards these Scentsy clips and I will be delivering them to Great Ormond Street Hospital on 26th March 2026 (the day after what should have been Henry’s 8th birthday).

Thank you for the love and support you have shown me and my family over the past year ❤️