5,000 Starship Children Delight In The Magic Of Reading
Five thousand sick children at Starship Children's Hospital have received books this year in a special programme
established to spread the magic of reading. Hospital staff and parents have noticed the positive impact the books have
had on the patients.
All children staying a night or more at Starship and those in day surgery can choose a book to keep. It is expected that
20,000 books will be donated to Starship patients by the end of this year.
Three year old Jordan Tixier from Mt Eden, Auckland was the 5,000th recipient of a book in the Coca-Cola Magic of
Reading Programme, which was introduced in the hospital in January of this year. Jordan, who suffers from epilepsy, was
admitted to Starship's neuroservices ward last week and his mother, Caroline Tixier believes that the programme makes a
big difference to sick children like Jordan.
Says Caroline, "Jordan is thrilled as he loves books and often steals his older brother's books. Being able to choose
his very own book to keep was very special for him and made his time in hospital much easier."
Neuroservices Charge Nurse Manager, Rachel Coleman, says the Coca-Cola Magic of Reading programme has been a success
with both patients and staff. "The programme has lifted the spirits of so many children at Starship. In many cases, the
children we see here haven't had the opportunity to take books or toys to hospital so it's a real boost for them to
receive a book to keep. We have been delighted with the impact it has had on their morale, at a time that can be very
stressful for them."
ENDS