Bethel - Children's stroke counsellor works from Bethel

Sabine Held accompanies affected families

Julian suffers a stroke when he is ten years old. The sporty boy can no longer walk or speak. Across Germany, 300 to 500 children are diagnosed with a stroke every year. The German Stroke Foundation's "Stroke Child Guides" project is there to support affected families. Sabine Held has been part of this team since April 2022. She is linked to the Bethel Protestant Hospital in Bielefeld.

A stroke diagnosis turns the lives of affected families upside down. "It is important to have an open ear for them and to clarify how we can support and accompany them," says Sabine Held. The 43-year-old coordinates and supports families in the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland from her base in Bielefeld. She guides them through the jungle of questions, therapy options and expert opinions. The German Stroke Foundation launched this support model in Germany more than ten years ago.

 

Sabine Held works closely with three other stroke child guides who look after families in other federal states. "We exchange ideas and consult with each other on a weekly basis," says the trained nurse and qualified care manager. Her colleagues come from the fields of social education and occupational therapy. "We complement each other perfectly." The topic of "childhood stroke" is hardly known, and only a few doctors and support services specialise in it. "That's why networking is very important and another focus of our work," emphasises Sabine Held.

The Burow family from East Westphalia was the first to receive advice and support from Sabine Held. Son Julian's stroke two years ago was a huge shock for him, his family and friends. The schoolboy is slowly fighting his way back into life. Sabine Held now looks after 17 families. "The fates are very different, which is why the counselling is also very individual," says the stroke counsellor. Some families just want a little support. "They get in touch every few months, but manage pretty well on their own. For others, everything still needs to be organised and we are in weekly contact." A large part of Sabine Held's work takes place over the phone or by email. To meet families in person, she travels to Münster once a month for a consultation for affected children.

Sabine Held is currently undergoing further training to become a case manager, which will take a total of one year. "This prepares me even better for what we do as guides. We plan the necessary support in the form of treatment, support, encouragement and care for patients," explains Sabine Held. The mother of three, who moved from Tübingen to Bielefeld to be with her husband, is very happy with her new role: "My work is very varied and I am surrounded by grateful people who really appreciate having found reliable contacts."

 

Text: Elena Sandbothe | Photos: Thomas Richter

This story simply told

Children can also have a stroke. Their families are then often very unsettled. They have many questions about treatment. Sabine Held is a children's stroke counsellor. She can help the families. She listens to them, answers their questions and advises them.

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    Sabine Held

    Stroke paediatric pilot for western Germany
    Responsible for: North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland

    Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel
    University Clinic for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
    Bethesdaweg 10
    33617 Bielefeld

    05241 9770-62

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    The Bethel Clinic for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine is one of the largest paediatric clinics in Germany. Every year, more than 10,000 paediatric patients are treated here as inpatients or day patients in all areas of paediatrics and over 20,000 patients are treated and trained in the special outpatient clinics. The experienced doctors and nursing staff at the paediatric surgery department specialise in newborns, infants, schoolchildren and adolescents - in other words, in every phase of the growth process.

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