Nadine Pullen is an invaluable member of the STR Shared Services team, and devoted mother to 3 children, 2 of whom are under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital. This year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation enabled a long-held dream to come true: meeting Santa in Lapland!
Can you tell us a bit about your son Jack and his condition?
Jack was diagnosed at 16 months old with a rare metabolic condition called MPS Hurlers Syndrome. Jack faced a bad prognosis with a life expectancy of just 10 years, but when we were offered a bone marrow transplant, although this came with its own risks, we decided to go for the chance to give Jack a better quality of life. Fortunately, the treatment was successful and Jack no longer has a life expectancy of just 10, but will still live with the limitations of his condition. We are incredibly grateful to Great Ormond Street Hospital, the Anthony Nolan Trust and to the donor for the roles they played.
Despite the improved quality of life after the bone marrow transplant, Jack still contends with skeletal issues and organ damage, necessitating ongoing monitoring across multiple medical departments. Although Jack’s condition imposes limitations, we live life a day at a time, working together with Great Ormond Street Hospital to plan for upcoming major surgery.
How does this affect your day-to-day family life?
Jacks daily life is impacted by persistent pain and susceptibility to infections. We use pain relief to help Jack manage each day and medical aids: a spinal brace, hearing aids and glasses.
How do you manage to juggle it all?
I have always been keen to work and I love being Nadine whilst I’m away from the crazy! I have worked for STR for nearly 3 years. The company supports me by offering me a part-time contract, flexible working hours to accommodate hospital appointments, and remote working for days when Jack has become unwell. STR offers the option to purchase extra holiday, all of which have made working possible.
Having my team’s support helps to alleviate stress. They understand me and make it possible for me to work part-time hours and still be a part of the team. In addition to the support I receive from my team, I have also had a wellbeing meeting with HR who make sure that the business is supporting me wherever possible.
Tell us about Make-A-Wish and how you got involved with them.
When Jack was diagnosed with MPS Hurlers we were told that he would be eligible to make a childhood wish and turning 10 was the perfect time to contact ‘Make-A-Wish’ and to turn a dream a reality. Make-A-Wish went beyond our expectations, granting Jack and his household a trip to Lapland!
Make-A-Wish is a charity who gives children with critical illnesses the chance to have a wish come true that is unique to them. Jack felt like he had a superpower being able to turn a wish into a reality!
Whilst on the trip, ITV asked if they would be able to film Jack and capture some of our special moments as a family. They will share Jack’s story and his Wish on This Morning’s Christmas Day special.
How did you get involved with them?
On 1st December, amidst much excitement, we headed off for Lapland. We stayed in a cosy log cabin in the woods and had a weekend filled with Christmas magic! This included sledding, husky dog rides, reindeer sleigh ride, snowmobiles, lots of singing with happy elves and a trip to meet the man himself – Santa! The Wish culminated with a Christmas party and, of course, a certificate for passing elf school.
Jack was in his element and we have created family memories that will last a lifetime.
So what did Jack make of Lapland?
Jack’s doctors and school referred Jack to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They then confirmed Jack’s eligibility and paired him with a Wish Granter from who’s role was to get to know Jack and talk through Jack’s interests to make sure his wish was made perfect for him.
Spread a little more magic this Christmas
If you want to see what an amazing time Nadine, Jack and the rest of the family had in Lapland, don’t forget to tune into This Morning on Christmas Day to see the family’s interview on their unforgettable, festive trip! To find out more about the incredible organisations mentioned in this article or to donate to help support their invaluable work, please follow the links below:
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