Kia Ora Koutou,

I know that for many of us we feel the end of the year has sneaked up on us and it is difficult to believe we are signing off with Christmas wishes and that a New Year is just around the corner!

It has been another busy year for True Colours. This year we have had 109 children with serious illnesses re-ferred to the service, and supported them and their families around the impact of these illnesses; this has included many 'out of hours' home visits. In total we are currently supporting 147 families as they face the complexity that illness brings into their lives.

Read more: Xmas Greetings 2012

Resiliency in Evidence Yesterday, True Colours held its annual family picnic day for the families that we support; the whole aim being to have some ‘simple’ fun and relaxation… and the sun shone for us this year!

There were a number of families who attended, from all walks of life. Some children who are recovering well from their illnesses, others who live courageously with their chronic and life-limiting illnesses, families who are grieving and are walking the bereavement journey and others who are on the other side of their neonatal intensive care experiences.

An aspect of the day I enjoy is the way people can come together with the variances of cultural, social, grief, health and disability differences and have fun, enjoy each other and live fully in that moment. I had a small depth of understanding as I met with each family, of the effort it may have cost them to actually leave the house.

Read more: Resiliency in Evidence

After returning from leave and getting back into my work commitments it is well and truly time to reconnect with my blog! The last time I wrote I was about to attend the Paediatric Palliative Care (PPC) conference in Wales.

I found the conference to be inspiring and it refuelled my passion in regards to providing a model of care that supports children and families living with serious illness. It was great to meet the international leaders in PPC. And of course it is always good to meet with like-minded people who are also dedicated and passionate about their work.

Read more: The importance of hearing from children, young people and their families

 While on leave, I am taking the opportunity to attend the paediatric palliative care conference in Wales.  I am looking forward to hearing from the keynote speakers on the topic, 'Science, Meaning and Morality: the Palliative Package.  Professor Myra Bluebond-Langner, is one of the keynote speakers and someone I have respected for many years for her research involving children with serious illnesses.

Some of the topics explored at the conference are, 'Spirituality in children - myth or reality'; 'Children and Young People's Voices in Living and Dying - how children express their knowledge of impending death'; and 'Knowledge, Self-determination in Children', just to name a few of the sessions.

Read more: The Wisdom of Learning from Others - 26 June 2012