‘When you have a child it brings it close to home’

Mar 28 2008 by Rhodri Evans, South Wales Echo

CHARLOTTE Church has revealed how becoming a mother has brought home the importance of Wales having its own children’s hospital.

The television presenter and singer yesterday launched a £4m appeal to equip the second phase of the Children’s Hospital for Wales.

Mum-of-one Charlotte is a patron of the Noah’s Ark Appeal, which has already raised £11m to build and equip the first stage of the Cardiff hospital.

After touring the old paediatric wards at the University Hospital of Wales, Charlotte, who was dressed in a turquoise top and black trousers, said: “It’s amazing to see how the parents cope. When you have a child of your own it makes it so much closer to home.

“If Ruby was ever ill, which touch wood she’ll never be, just to know there would be a children’s hospital that’s absolutely state-of-the art, that you wouldn’t have to travel to England for, to have it right here in Wales, would make any parent sleep well at night.

“It’s made a hell of a difference.”

The Voice of an Angel star gave birth to her first child – Ruby Megan – in September at the home in St Brides Major that she shares with rugby player boyfriend Gavin Henson.

While launching the Noah’s Ark Appeal, which she has supported for eight years, Charlotte remained tight-lipped on how many more children she hopes to have, but enjoyed cuddling ill babies at the hospital – taking off her chunky wooden bangles and a large golden heart pendant before doing so.

She said: “When I started coming here I was a child myself.

“It means so much more to me now that I’m a mother. It gives you more of an understanding of what parents are going through.

“Once you become a mother, you become a mother of all children.”

The singer said Ruby had not given her any sleepless nights, but that her life was entirely different now she was a mum.

“It’s completely changed here, but all in completely positive ways,” she said.

“There’s not one negative. She’s been the most well-behaved baby.”

Ruby spent the morning at home with her father while Charlotte launched the appeal, which will pay for the first open MRI scanner of its kind in the UK.

She said of Ruby: “She’s a daddy’s girl through and through,” adding her daughter is almost crawling and can say “goo goo ga ga”.

madeleine.brindley@mediawales.co.uk