– According to the conditions, it is going quiet well. They do a lot of good for the children here, who get to make Christmas decorations and decorate the Christmas tree, says Geir Andvord Søbstad.
For the family from Mosjøen must spend Christmas at the University Hospital of Northern Norway in Tromsø. About 700 kilometers from home.
daughter Kine Johanne Andvord Søbstad (6) has leukemia and needs treatment.
Dad Geir lives in the room with her. Mum Eilin Andvord Søbstad lives in the patient hotel with a little brother of four months and a sister of almost two years.
– It’s nice to have them here with us, so we can celebrate a bit of Christmas, says dad Geir.
The staff arrange as much as possible so that Kine and other patients and relatives have as nice a Christmas as possible.Photo: Simen Wingstad / NRK
Relapse
– It is demanding with young children and someone with cancer, says mum Eilin Andvord Søbstad.
Kine has had cancer for two and a half years. She recovered, but in November she relapsed.
– We arrived here at the end of November and must be here until the beginning of January. Then we get a break before we go back again at the end of January.
# Christmas at the Hospital: Making Spirits Luminous for Young Patients
Children’s nurses Raymond bertheussen and Lina Nilsen ensure that those who celebrate Christmas at UNN in Tromsø have a nice holiday.
Photo: Simen Wingstad / NRK
Facilitator
– We try to make arrangements for the patients so that they have a good time. And we think it’s nice to be able to give them a good Christmas here, says children’s nurse Raymond Bertheussen.
The ward has 15 beds, but at Christmas one in three beds is empty.
– There are many activities here before Christmas. Throughout December, we have done a lot of different things, with the ramp elf and much else.
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