“Nolan really enjoys his visits to the hospice and always leaves with a little gift and a big smile. The nurses are so warm and friendly – they truly love to see him.”
At just 18 months old, Nolan is full of energy, smiles and a love for life. He’s usually dancing around the room – and is constantly making people smile.
But, alongside his cheeky grin and playful personality, Nolan lives with a long-term condition called Lymphoedema – a build-up of fluid that causes swelling and discomfort, especially in his feet and lower legs.
Shortly after Nolan was born in 2023, his family was introduced to St Oswald’s Hospice and its specialist Lymphoedema Service.
The family didn’t know much about the hospice and felt uncertain, but after speaking with the team, their doubts quickly turned to relief. Kath Clark, Matron of Day Services at St Oswald’s Hospice, helped them feel reassured right from the start.
Mum, Amy, shared:
“We didn’t know what to expect when we first reached out to St Oswald’s Hospice, but the team has been amazing – especially Kath – she’s wonderful and is so knowledge about Nolan’s condition.”
With the support of St Oswald’s Hospice, Nolan’s family has learned how to manage his condition and make sure he stays comfortable. They follow a daily routine to keep Nolan happy and healthy.
Dad, Andrew, explained:
“Every day we gently massage lotion into Nolan’s legs to help keep the fluid moving and ease the swelling. Kath has prescribed special compression socks for him to wear at night, and we’re hopeful that they’ll help with the fluid build-up.
Amy added:
“Nolan also wears specially made shoes to make sure he’s comfortable while he plays and explores. It’s all part of our daily routine to make sure we’re managing the condition, but it doesn’t stop him from being the happy, active little boy he is.”
Kath Clark, Matron of Day Services at St Oswald’s Hospice, said:
“Caring for Nolan has been such a joy, we’re so proud to support him and his family. With every visit, we’re not just helping manage his Lymphoedema, we’re making sure he can have the same quality of life as any other child. We’ll continue to be here for him and his family every step of the way.”
Even though Nolan lives with Lymphoedema, his family are determined that it won’t be what defines him.
Amy continued:
“Nolan does have Lymphoedema, but we don’t want that to be what people see first. We want him to grow up just like any other child – to be known for his pleasant nature and the way he just gets on with things.
Andrew said:
“With the help of the Lymphoedema Team, that’s exactly what he’s doing – living a happy, active life, just like any little boy should.”
Feeling inspired by the care and support they’ve received, Nolan’s family wanted to find a way to give something back – and to help raise awareness of a service they hadn’t even known existed until it became a lifeline.
Kate said:
“It was tough, emotional, and something we’ll never forget – but it felt right. We wanted to give something back, raise awareness of the Lymphoedema Service and let other families like ours know they’re not alone.”
We’re so grateful to Beth and Kate for taking on the marathon in support of St Oswald’s Hospice – and for Nolan’s family helping to shine a light on the Lymphoedema Service that means so much to our patients and their families across the North East.
