10 YEARS OF THE PARENTS’ HOUSE MARKED

BANJA LUKA, SEPTEMBER 8 /SRNA - The Iskra Association of Parents of Children Suffering from Malignant Diseases in Banja Luka on Tuesday evening marked the 10th anniversary of the Parents’ House, which has so far accommodated more than 260 families.

“This is our little birthday celebration. Here with us are doctors from the Paediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, nurses, medical staff who are extremely important to us, as well as our children who are here now or have stayed here in the past, and their parents,” Parents’ House manager Katica Kerkez told SRNA. Kerkez wished the children currently in the hospital ward strength to get through their ordeal as easily and quickly as possible and to return to the Parents’ House, and, once their treatment is complete, to go home healthy. The Iskra Parents’ House is primarily intended to provide free accommodation for parents staying with their children during treatment, as well as for the children themselves. Kerkez said that seven families are currently staying there and that all the apartments are occupied. “Children who live far away cannot go home during breaks in their treatment, which is why they stay here. It is also extremely important that the Parents’ House is close to the University Clinical Centre of Republika Srpska, which gives parents a sense of security during treatment,” Kerkez said. She stressed that the importance of the Parents’ House also lies in the fact that children can spend time with their peers, while parents can spend time with other parents and share their experiences with one another. She thanked everyone who has supported the Iskra Parents’ Association over the years, including healthcare workers, particularly those in the Paediatric Hematology and Oncology Department, as well as donors, volunteers, friends, and all the big-hearted people who understood that helping a family fighting for their child’s life means doing something truly great. The construction and furnishing of the Parents’ House in Banja Luka were made possible through funds raised during the traditional humanitarian campaign “To Brave Hearts with Love,” held in December 2014 under the auspices of the President of Republika Srpska.