A huge THANK YOU to all of you who so generously supported our Christmas campaign to buy SPECIALIST HOSPITAL-GRADE BEDS to improve the care and comfort of children and young adults with serious medical problems. With the help of the Gelvez family who ran their own Fundraising page in support of the Campaign - and 5 year old Samuel who painted rainbows on rocks as a special thank you to his fundraisers - we raised a total of just over £3000 (including Gift Aid, before Just Giving fees). We will send the funds to Luz y Vida as soon as all the money has come in. We will then keep track of the purchasing process from the order to delivery and post pictures on our website of the beds you have so very kindly provided at the Luz y Vida home in Bogota. Thank you all - a very happy story to start the New Year when we all need something to boost our hopes and spirits.

All money raised will go to purchase specially designed, adjustable electrically operated beds for the new Special Care unit at the Luz y Vida residential home in Bogotá, Colombia. The home cares for 230 children and young people with serious mental and physical health problems including Down's syndrome, cerebral palsy, crystal skin (Epidermolysis Bullosa), hearing loss, blindness, mental and developmental delay, chronic and acute malnutrition, gastrostomy (gastric tube feeding), quadriplegia and cancer.

Luz y Vida needs a total of 40 beds for the new unit which is being developed to care for children with more serious disabilities and illnesses.  Each bed costs just over £725. We already have enough to buy one. We hope to raise enough to buy THREE BEDS in our Christmas Bed Appeal.

"The health of these children can suffer significantly without specialist care.  The new unit will provide them with a more suitable space where they can benefit from equipment that is specially designed to make them more comfortable and make it easier to deliver the care they need," explains Luz y Vida director Hna. Valeriana Martin.

The beds are electrically operated and adjustable to five different positions to raise the patient's back, legs or the mattress height and make it easier for carers to attend to their needs.  They have IV (Intravenous Therapy) stands and custom-built mattresses to help prevent bedsores and improve patient comfort.  They are on wheels with brakes so are very stable but can be easily moved when necessary.  They are sourced from https://biosmedic.com, a reputable medical equipment supplier in Bogotá and you can read a full product description https://www.biosmedic.com/producto/cama-hospitalaria-electrica-5-movimientos/.

Read more about Luz y Vida and watch the video of the inspirational love and individual care, encouragement and attention given to every resident at https://www.childrenofcolombia.com/hogares-luz-y-vida

For more information, e-mail info@childrenofcolombia.com