Parents must be able to fully focus on the health of their hospitalized child. It is with this conviction that the association Les Liens du Cœur was created to relieve them of all the challenges they may face.
First and foremost, there is the issue of accommodation. The Haut-Lévêque Hospital in Pessac, under the auspices of CHU de Bordeaux, is one of the four French reference centers for very complex congenital heart diseases. The other three are in Paris. Consequently, families sometimes travel from far away to have their child operated on. When possible, they are accommodated in the reception houses of the children's hospital in… Bordeaux. This is why the association Les Liens du Cœur has established a shuttle service that operates every day of the year to help families make the journey.
With hospital stays that can last several weeks, sometimes several months, parents also face the challenge of maintaining their professional activities. Once again, the association offers coworking solutions, as well as support for siblings.
Well-being workshops are also organized: reiki, osteopathy, cardio boxing, Pilates, yoga…, open to parents, older children, and caregivers. “Caring for caregivers is also part of the association's mission,” explains Yannick Jouenne. “When you spend long weeks, long months in the hospital, you need to be strong, and having these workshops helps you stay strong.”
The association is on the verge of launching its flagship project, which it has been working on for over 10 years, by 2027: the creation of a reception house just steps away from the Haut-Lévêque Hospital, on land provided by CHU de Bordeaux. More than just a reception house, it will be a true living space with family rooms, coworking areas, a large gym, a wellness area, a library, a playroom, a vegetable garden, and a large communal kitchen.
"This reception house will be a true living space where families can feel as comfortable as possible, close to their hospitalized child,” concludes Yannick Jouenne.
