The Sick Children's Trust and the lovely Michael Crawford

On Thursday we went to a party, a very special party, at Eckersley House. It is one of the 'homes from home' run by the Sick Children's Trust. Recently the children's services in Leeds have been centralised in the LGI buildings. Previously a fair chunk of the services, including our paediatric liver unit, were based at the St James group of buildings, further out of the centre of Leeds. Eckersley House has been relocated from St James to the LGI in order to continue serving the families of sick children.

The building had that fresh plaster and paint smell to it and the prospect of a small party to make the official opening was exciting. We knew Michael Crawford would be attending, which made it all the more exciting.

We arrived early as we had been asked to be part of an interview for the local BBC news programme. Tony is great at these things, I cringe inwardly but want to do whatever I can to promote such a wonderful charity.

The girls made themselves at home in one of the playrooms which I think, by the time we left, they considered to be theirs!

The girls stopped for a snack break as the BBC crew were delayed. The Eckersley House staff were running round trying to get everything ready but still had time to chat with us and sneak a bit of food to one side for the girls.

The BBC crew arrived around midday and we explored a kitchen/living room/playroom upstairs. The girls, Bethany in particular, were excited about possibly being on TV and made sure they did their best to follow instructions - which isn't too hard when the instruction is 'go play'! :) They interviewed Tony - oh, and I said a few words too - then filmed the girls playing some more.

Oh my goodness, the girls were so excited to meet Michael. Eloise wandered around behind him calling "Michael Crawford... Michael Crawford..." until she got his attention. That's my Eloise! Bethany was in awe and refused to go near him for a while but warmed up to the idea that he was not scary. In the end he had her in fits of laughter. We listened to the RJP Community Choir sing Proud, a song they recorded with the Leeds Rhinos to fundraise for the Sick Children's Trust. You know how sometimes you listen to a song and it gives you goosebumps? Then you'll know how it felt listening to the choir sing. After the speeches and presentations we all went outside to watch Michael cut the ribbon on the front door. He was so lovely, after the official photographers got their photos Michael posed so Bethany and Eloise could get a picture with their cameras.

Bethany was too overwhelmed to sit next to Michael, she kept telling me she was too nervous. After some encouragement she sat next to him but wouldn't look at him or talk. But Michael persevered and two minutes later she was giggling away with him. I'm so glad she got over the nerves or she would have been so annoyed with herself afterwards for not talking to him.

The girls presented him with drawings that they made for him. He was particularly impressed with Bethany's artist impression of him. ;)

Tony gave Michael a copy of his book, the proceeds of which go to the Sick Children's Trust. :)

And at the end of an emotional day, when the girls were tired, Bethany made a new friend, Jennifer. They had a girlie moment when Bethany realised she'd missed the magician. Awwwww, bless. :)

We had a fantastic time. We met Michael Crawford. We helped advocate and raise awareness for the Sick Children's Trust. We met Michael Crawford. We got to have a look around the new Eckersley House. We met Michael Crawford. :) :) :)

As often is the way for Bethany, the next day she came back down to earth with a bump when she was diagnosed with conjunctivitis which meant she had to miss a very special day at school. Sadly, infections seem to get in the way of a lot of things for Bethany, it's all in a days work for a transplant patient and Bethany seems to be particularly susceptible. She missed a talent contest (for which she made up a dance and practised every night), she missed a school picnic in the afternoon and tomorrow she will miss a dance competition. But you should have seen her face when we were in the chemists collecting her eye drops and an elderly lady asked her if she was "The Bethany Salmon from the TV?"