The Knight family’s stay at the Beach House
For generations the quintessential summer getaway for Australian families has been enjoyed at the beach.
However, for parents whose children have complex medical needs packing the car and heading to their favourite location is not a simple undertaking. The need to take their child’s medical equipment, and beach shacks not designed for wheelchair accessibility, let alone fitted with disabled bathrooms or lifting equipment, means organising and going on a holiday is a lot of hard work and often not worth the stress.
It is for these reasons the Women’s & Children’s Hospital Foundation ‘Laklinyeri’ Beach House was built.
In early January 2020, we welcomed the Knight family to the Beach House. Sue and John’s daughter, Verity, is cared for by the Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s complex care team.
Sue shared what the stay meant to her family.
“When it was shared with us that the WCH Foundation designed and created the Beach House for families like ours we were so humbled and honoured to be supported and acknowledged in this way,” Sue Knight said.
The Knight family stayed at the Beach House in early 2020.
“When we arrived at the Beach House, we felt an immediate sense of calm and tranquillity. Every part of the House has been thoughtfully designed and built with love and empathy.
“To have the opportunity to spend time with our boys, Henry and Jonas, and for my mum to have time with Verity has created a unique opportunity to make memories that sustain us on this journey and enable us to feel like a regular family – something I know families like ours don’t take for granted.
“Being in a home not only designed for comfort, recharge and discreetly equipped for a wheelchair (those rounded walls, terrazzo flooring and the landscaping), but which also welcomes extended family and friends is just extraordinary.
“From our family, a most sincere thank you to all who contributed to this magnificent home. Most of all thank you for helping us to give Verity, Henry and Jonas, the best life we can.”
The Beach House is South Australia’s first purpose-built holiday home for families with children with complex medical needs or in palliative care.
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