Support, solidarity, kindness, guest at La Grande Motte, on the set of the show “You are wonderful” presented by Ariane Brodier, Annie Séquier-Blanc, president of “La Pasquière”, explains to us the role and importance of this reception house for families of hospitalized people. Interview.
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For 47 years, La Pasquière has welcomed, supports and accompanies families of hospitalized patients. Created by four women, hospital visitors, this reception center now welcomes more and more people. “The house opened on January 1, 1978. The house has existed and been operating for 46 years, and on September 2, we opened a new Pasquière“, explains Annie Séquier-Blanc, president of the association.
This new home dedicated to parents of hospitalized children has opened near the Montpellier University Hospital. It meets a real need for families living several hundred kilometers from the hospital. On the set of the show “You are wonderful”, Annie Séquier-Blanc explains to us the role and importance of these reception centers. Interview.
Near the beach, in La Grande Motte, in a festive setting, Annie Séquier-Blanc answers questions from host Ariane Brodier.
Ariane Brodier : Can you tell us about the role of La Pasquière?
Annie Sécuier-Blanc: So, La Pasquière’s role is a hosting role, but not only that. It is important to remember: a sick person is not alone. There is a whole family who accompanies him and who needs support. We don’t just hand over the key. Besides, I usually say that it’s anything but a hotel, it’s a real house. This means that there are common areas, the kitchens, the dining room, the living room, and individual areas, bedrooms, bathroom, etc. And why isn’t it a hotel? Because there is a reception, accompaniment and support function. There are workshops, for example, on well-being, there are yoga classes, there are sophrology sessions which are offered free of charge by professionals and volunteers who work at La Pasquière.
Ariane Brodier : Currently there are two houses: une family house, which is located behind the Saint-Éloi hospital and more recently, you opened a parents’ house, which is located on a site which belongs to the CHU, and which is entirely dedicated to parents of hospitalized children. How many families and how many people can you accommodate in each house?
Annie Sécuier-Blanc: So, in “The Parents’ House”, we have 10 rooms, and we can accommodate 23 people, because there are rooms and family suites to accommodate the dad, the mom and the brothers and sisters.
Numerous studies have shown that the role of family and those close to those hospitalized influences the capacity for compliance, that is to say the ability of a patient to tolerate treatments.
Annie Sécuier-Blanc: At “La Pasquière”, we have many parents of children who have leukemia. We know that leukemia involves chemotherapy, but also lumbar punctures, which are very invasive and painful examinations. Having his mom and dad, most often, by his side, allows the child to better accept hospitalization and the duration of care. We are talking about a long time when we talk about these diseases.
Ariane Brodier : The Montpellier site, as you said, is located near the University Hospital and therefore has a parents’ center. Is there psychological support for these parents of hospitalized children?
Annie Sécuier-Blanc: Within La Pasquière itself, no, because most services like
oncology and pediatrics are putting a certain number of things in place to psychologically support families. On the other hand, we support them through workshops. For example, every Sunday morning, there is a cooking workshop. We try to break the rhythm of these days which are long, heavy, sometimes difficult, with ups and downs. There are days when the child is much better, other days when the child is much worse. And that, at the parents’ house, we feel it, and we know how to keep the right distance, but also the right empathy.
Ariane Brodier : Can hospitalized children leave the hospital and spend time at their parents’ home?
Annie Sécuier-Blanc: It’s a possibility, yes. We can envisage that the child could have an outing for an hour or two to come and have a snack with his brothers and sisters. We also have children, at La Pasquière, a family home, who are there, who have been hospitalized for a year and six months. There is a little Tunisian girl who has leukemia and a little Moroccan boy who also has leukemia. For economic reasons, because families cannot return to their country, they live in La Pasquière.
Ariane Brodier : How can we help you? How do I contact the association? And finally, what do you need?
Annie Sécuier-Blanc: So, we basically need donations. An online prize pool on HelloAsso is available. You can also send donations directly to the parents’ house, or through our site. If you would like to get involved and become a volunteer, do not hesitate to contact us via our website.
All “You are wonderful” shows are available for replay on the platform france.tv.
