Bringing light during a dark time: Hamza’s story
Hamza has a rare, life-long heart condition which means that he and his family spend a lot of time in hospital. During a month-long stay Hamza and his mum, Farhana, were invited to a screening at the MediCinema – an experience that helped Hamza turn a corner.
This is their story…
In hospital there’s not much you get to choose for yourself, especially as a child. So having the chance to go to the MediCinema gave Hamza something really important – a sense of freedom and independence that we all take for granted.
Hamza’s mum, Farhana
We were recently in hospital for surgery and although [Hamza is] incredibly resilient, it’s never easy. He calls it a “sleepover” when he knows he has to stay a while, which says a lot about how bravely he handles things.
This time, we were in hospital for a month. I stayed with him every night. It was a traumatic time for our family. Hamza was really unwell, and for a while we couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The MediCinema had been mentioned to us a few times by the nurses on our ward, but it wasn’t until we were invited to see the new Sonic the Hedgehog film that Hamza got really excited. He’s a huge Sonic fan. That day, he had to have a blood test (a regular for Hamza) and for the first time we had something we could use as a real motivator: “Let’s get this done, and then we’re off to the cinema!” In hospital there’s not much you get to choose for yourself, especially as a child. So having the chance to go to the MediCinema gave Hamza something really important – a sense of freedom and independence that we all take for granted.
Once we were inside, we all forgot we were in hospital. It just so happened that one of the MediCinema nurses on shift that night was a nurse who’d known Hamza since he was born – having her sitting in the seat next to him gave him that extra comfort.
Hospital can be a traumatic place. But that one MediCinema screening gave our hospital stay a positive twist. It gave Hamza a boost – a “I can do this!” spark he needed to get going – and it helped us all hold onto something good in the middle of everything else going on.
Hamza’s mum, Farhana
He was completely absorbed in the film from the moment it started – laughing out loud the whole time – and I mean, really laughing! It was such an escape for him, and such a boost. When we got back to the ward, the nurses asked him how it was and he lit up, telling them all about it, in his own words.
Me and Hamza’s Dad felt so refreshed when we came out. Even though it had only been a couple of hours, it felt like time really slowed down while we were in the MediCinema, and we had been given a break, an escape, from our situation and the same four walls we’d been staring at for weeks. We could just spend some time watching our son enjoy something.
Hospital can be a traumatic place. It was for us. But that one MediCinema screening gave our hospital stay a positive twist. It gave Hamza a boost – a “I can do this!” spark he needed to get going – and it helped us all hold onto something good in the middle of everything else going on. Hamza will have to keep going into hospital for the rest of his life, so experiences like this really matter. The more we can give him moments of joy and escape in hospital, the better it will be for him – and for our whole family.
The MediCinema at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital recently celebrated its first birthday with over 4000 young patients and their families enjoying the cinema in its first 12 months.
