Information for families who have recently started accessing Demelza services.
Welcome to Demelza
Demelza is here to support you and your family at every step –
with care that doesn’t back down.
Demelza delivers extraordinary care to extraordinary children who are
facing serious or life-limiting conditions, throughout Kent, South East
London and East Sussex.
![Demelza 2023 106 RT LR (1)](/media/ygafhka3/demelza_2023_106-rt-lr.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&rnd=133237920173700000)
Guide to services
A guide to all the services that we offer at Demelza including contact information.
![Demelza 2023 397 RT LR](/media/m0apcote/demelza_2023_397-rt-lr.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&rnd=133229291297870000)
Book a tour
If you haven't visited a Demelza site before then you can book a tour to find out more.
Join us for coffee and a tour
Demelza's family liaison team organise these coffee mornings. The team provides bespoke social, emotional and practical support for parents, carers, siblings and the wider family throughout every step of their Demelza journey by offering a range of services.
You can find out more about what they do by watching this quick video: https://youtu.be/QjpjBtBPknU
![RS7017 AS204986 (1)](/media/fombermf/rs7017_as204986-1.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=700&height=500&rnd=133592092397900000)
Family Stories
Cameron's story
Eventually, it was discovered that Cameron was suffering from a unique chromosome deletion; so rare that it’s the only recorded case on the worldwide database for chromosomal abnormalities. The family were devastated. Cameron's grandparents, Denise and David have shared her story.
![Cameron is clapping her hands.](/media/arubmn02/cameron-1.jpg?center=0.45314109165808442,0.63673843334860281&mode=crop&rnd=132991628319970000)
![Cameron is clapping her hands.](/media/arubmn02/cameron-1.jpg?center=0.45314109165808442,0.63673843334860281&mode=crop&rnd=132991628319970000)
Family Stories
Matilda's story
"Discovering that Matilda had the same condition that had taken Ayla away from us, we were thrown back into the whirlwind of appointments and referrals we thought we had left behind. Eventually, Matilda was also diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, a rare and serious condition that causes severe heart complications." - Lisa, mum to Ayla and Matilda.
![Matilda is laying on the flooring, enjoying sensory play.](/media/314asfiv/rs2252_demelza-photoshoot-60-scr.jpg?center=0.36397849093144158,0.7279386517111136&mode=crop&rnd=132991607173270000)
![Matilda is laying on the flooring, enjoying sensory play.](/media/314asfiv/rs2252_demelza-photoshoot-60-scr.jpg?center=0.36397849093144158,0.7279386517111136&mode=crop&rnd=132991607173270000)
Family Stories
Albert's story
“Albert, my beautiful eight-year-old boy, suffers from Batten’s Disease; a terminal, degenerative neurological condition which causes seizures, blindness, and over time takes away a child’s ability to move or speak independently. Tragically, the average life expectancy is nine to 11 years. Albert's mum, Holli, shared their story.
![Albert, with his Mum, Dad and brother, Wilfred.](/media/h2hfy2e4/albert-1.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&rnd=132991580318300000)
![Albert, with his Mum, Dad and brother, Wilfred.](/media/h2hfy2e4/albert-1.png?anchor=center&mode=crop&rnd=132991580318300000)
Family Stories
Finley's story
Finley, who has cerebral palsy and cannot speak and is registered blind, uses Demelza’s Kent hospice for short breaks every summer. Read more about Finley's diagnosis and the services he accesses at Demelza.
![Father and son sitting on a red sofa.](/media/pkllkrgg/finley-and-his-dad.jpg?center=0.44681239602410139,0.43574885023461268&mode=crop&rnd=132882969021600000)
![Father and son sitting on a red sofa.](/media/pkllkrgg/finley-and-his-dad.jpg?center=0.44681239602410139,0.43574885023461268&mode=crop&rnd=132882969021600000)
Family Stories
Mohammed Yahya’s story
"We were told about Demelza – and said this was a place that could give Mohammed Yahya the care he needed. We cannot describe the feeling of utter relief, the weight falling away from us." - Jamila and Abdul, Mohammed Yahya's parents.
![Mohammed Yahya is sleeping, tucked in to his baby blue blankets.](/media/x5ck1xsq/microsoftteams-image-1.png?center=0.36490955118108548,0.576647486124958&mode=crop&rnd=132883600082400000)
![Mohammed Yahya is sleeping, tucked in to his baby blue blankets.](/media/x5ck1xsq/microsoftteams-image-1.png?center=0.36490955118108548,0.576647486124958&mode=crop&rnd=132883600082400000)
Get in touch
We offer advocacy and practical, emotional and social support to parents, carers, siblings and grandparents. The family support helpline is open Monday to Friday, 10am-4pm or you can email us and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.