A MUM from Kidderminster has thanked KEMP Hospice after one of the charity's counsellors spent a year helping two grieving sisters to get rid of their nightmares.

Kate Hyde said her daughters, Libby, 12, and Mollie, 8, were “too scared to sleep” after their parents’ separation was followed by the death of their grandad in March last year.

It was an upsetting time for the siblings, who were then told they could not go to school as the coronavirus crisis forced the UK into lockdown.

But Kate said KEMP Hospice’s bereavement team continued to offer support to her daughters until they were finally rid of their sleep phobia.

“We are so utterly grateful to have KEMP and, particularly, Jackie as their counsellor,” Kate said. “We have had more support than usual from KEMP because Jackie said ‘I am not going to abandon them now when we are going through this pandemic. I will keep supporting them with video calls.’

“It has been phenomenal having somebody that cares so much.

“Whether it’s their dad and I separating, their grandad dying of bowel cancer or the coronavirus pandemic happening, the girls have got no control over any of those situations so they wouldn’t know how to process any of those emotions.

“It got to a point where they were too scared to sleep at night. They did not want to sleep without each other, and they were scared that monsters were in the wardrobe or under the bed. They needed a lot of reassurance.

“They didn’t want me or their grandma to be out of their sight because it was a loss of control and then they would want to know what was happening should my mum get upset.”

As part of the bereavement support, Libby and Mollie received several coping mechanisms, including a "worry monster" toy which allowed them to write down their thoughts on a note and post it in its mouth.

The counselling sessions were also based around playing games such as UNO and chess and using craft skills.

Kate added: “During their sessions, the girls made a cushion which they drew on things that they associated with anger on one side and things they saw positive or happy on the other.

“When they were feeling angry because grandad had been taken away or because grandma was upset, they could punch that side of the pillow.

“When they were feeling sad and wanted a hug, they could hug the other side of the pillow.

“It has made a big difference.

“They sleep in the same room in bunkbeds, but they have got the confidence to know that night times aren’t scary.

“They also know they can talk to us about granddad without the fear of that upsetting either myself or my mum, so they can process their own thoughts a little easier now.”

Kate and her mum also benefitted from KEMP’s bereavement services in a bid to unlock the grip of grief.

“After my dad’s death, our nurse suggested that we should have some counselling,” Kate said. “We knew KEMP was there, but you don’t like to bother people as you always think somebody needs it more than you do.

“But once our nurse made a referral, KEMP got in touch and spoke to us about what we would need.

“I think the girls had 12 months of support which is unusual. I had between six and 10 counselling sessions with Cathy.

“My mum took a while to get her head around it but once she did and found the right person to talk at KEMP in Lyn, it did her the world of good."

KEMP is in urgent need of donations to help it continue delivering its specialist care to patients’ homes.

To donate to the charity's Resilience Fund appeal, visit kemphospice.org.uk/donate or call 01562 756066.