Amazing DDCS Family Activity Weekend
By Natalie Pilgrim and Leanne Witheford
Hi, I'm Natalie Pilgrim, mum to Jack Pilgrim who is 10 years old and who is profoundly deaf in both ears, and has Cochlear Implants.
We attended our first activity weekend at PGL Osmington with DDCS two years ago, we were a little apprehensive about the whole experience at the build-up of the weekend, but there was really nothing to worry about, as we had a great time! Shirley and all the team were all very welcoming and there for reassurance for the whole weekend if needed. It was great seeing Jack really enjoying himself and giving all the activities a go, to see him making friends and joining in with all the things was fantastic, his confidence just grew.
​I really enjoyed myself as well, getting to know other parents and feeling confident to talk to others who are in the same situation as myself. I would recommend (however daunting it seems) on giving all the activities a go, I did (didn't think I would be able to) but I did it and came away feeling proud of myself. We are really looking forward to this year's weekend.
Myself and my family have been a member of the Dorset Deaf Children's Society for the best part of 8 years now and I can honestly say it's been amazing to have a group where you can meet up and all the children feel the same and just seeing them all together having fun and thriving is truly amazing. Shirley and the team are great, we will be forever grateful for DDCS.
My name is Leanne and I have a 13 year old son called Blake. We have been members of DDCS since Blake was 5 after having several surgeries between the age of 3 to 4 on his ears. After investigations and grommets he then developed a cholesteatoma which then needed removing. Blake was the first child at Poole Hospital to have this procedure. He had a right mastoidectomy removing his mastoid bone (5.5 hours in theatre) which has left him with a moderate hearing loss. This is when I saw the leaflet for DDCS when we were sat in the paediatric room at Audiology in Boscombe. I then phoned Shirley and as they say the rest is history.
We have attended several events over the years which has been lovely and meeting other families. Although at the events I always try to chat to someone as this is the whole point to share experience and for the children to make friends. But sometimes you might be at an event for 3 hours and have your whole family with you so it might just be a smile and a hello to other families. However, PGL was by far an amazing experience. What I loved was in the groups everyone become friends, we laughed, shared experiences, the children did activities they would never have done and got totally out of their comfort zones, adults joining in the fun (and some getting competitive), children becoming friends and looking out for them at other events now. One thing for sure it is definitely not a rest, it is full on but just so great to watch everyone have such good fun. Also, the evenings were a time for everyone to chill out - the kids could play in the hall or have a game of pool and the adults could sit and chat and get to know each other over a glass of fizz and reflect on the day.
Ihe whole time was structured, organised, fun, energetic and just wholesome. Plenty of fresh air, the food was good and we loved it. Blake keeps asking when are we going again and as soon as the date was released we were definitely going again. So for anyone thinking about it and not sure like we were - once you go, you will have the best time and be itching for the next PGL.