Our recent stay in Skylark ward was met with utter disbelief because of the level of care they all have for the children they look after. My 5-month-old son was admitted to Skylark after an A&E ambulance visit due to having a chronic seizure at home. We have since found out my son has epilepsy. During our time in Skylark, the only positive within such an awful experience was the absolute level of care, understanding, and compassion from Elaine, who looked after us for two days.

She was beyond words. I was a scared mum, on no sleep, petrified of my future and had no clue what to expect - my son endured tests, cannulas, MRI's, multiple medications and I didn't once not understand what was going on because Elaine took time out of her day to explain everything to me, she would explain what was happening, ask me if I understood and if I didn't not once did, I feel stupid for asking. She would ask me how I was feeling, even though we both knew I was at the breaking point. She went above and beyond her job expectations; she looked after my son and fought for him and for us; she was a shoulder to lean on in scary moments; she made sure she was at our side and kept us aware of every single step we were going through.

In moments of mayhem, she would be in our room, helping ease my child when upset and making me laugh when I didn't feel like it. My other son came to visit, a crazy 4-year-old, and she treated him with so much love; she gave him so much time and explained everything she was doing to him. Something so little to us, but to a 4-year-old who didn't understand anything, it was massive. She made light out of a horrible situation. My child has epilepsy, and we are on such a long journey, but I left the ward after discharge completely content with our stay because she always went that little bit above and beyond to look after us all- which she didn't need to. Recognition is deserved for people like her, who give their all to complete strangers who rely on them for support.