The birth of a child for most of us is a moment of joy and celebration. However, in some cases it becomes a moment of joy tinged with anguish.

It can happen in moments, an unexpected birth trauma, and your life and your child's life will be changed forever.

You are left coming to terms with looking after a baby that will never be normal, and will always be totally dependent on you. The excitement turns to despair, how will you cope? How long will their life be? Or again, you have a wonderful normal child, and then, out of the blue, they are found to have a genetic disorder with life-threatening consequences. The burden placed on families in these situations is enormous, but it is a burden these families happily undertake — they have no other choice. They love these special children but it is a time-consuming, lonely existence.

Demands on the National Health Service, often victims of their own success, means that the support to these families is, understandably, limited. This is where ROSY (Respite nursing for Oxfordshire’s Sick Youngsters) comes in. It provides respite nursing care to these families in their own homes. It now pays the salaries of ten nurses who work with the Community Children’s Unit to provide additional respite care for these families. ROSY will buy equipment the families may need in their home to make their lives a little more bearable; in times of great need it will provide additional nursing hours.

A small voluntary committee runs ROSY and its patron is Lady Rotherwick. Its activities range from The Rambling ROSY Walk to a market stall in Oxford. Its administration is sponsored by a committee member, so all the money raised goes to those families who are so much in need and who are so deserving of support. ROSY would be happy to visit any organisation to talk about its work. Donations would be gratefully received. If you are contemplating any form of fundraising activity please consider ROSY in your thoughts.

You can visit the website: www.rosy.org.uk; contact the charity at: help@rosy.org.uk; phone on 01865 848696, or write or send a donation to: The Secretary, 80 Evans Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 2JB.