Česky
The aim of the project is to raise funds to further improve the care provided to children with serious, life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses, whilst also supporting their families. These funds will, for example, help to finance hippotherapy and canine-assisted therapy, which are not covered by the National Health Service, as well as further training and the development of essential skills that help to continually advance the care provided to children and their families.
DIOP: care that considers both the child and the whole family
A dedicated DIOP ward for children at Hospital Hořovice was opened in September 2018. Its mission is to provide comprehensive care for children living with serious, life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. However, this is not just about treating the child themselves. The care is multidisciplinary and also focuses on the needs of the whole family.
Alongside physicians and nurses, the care team includes, for example, physiotherapists, a psychologist, a special needs teacher, a chaplain, a social worker and other specialists. Psychological, social and spiritual support are, in fact, an important part of this care.
“DIOP is a department that cares for children with serious, life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses, but not only them – we also care for their families. Our aim is to support both the child and the family in all aspects of life affected by the illness. Therefore, in addition to medical needs, we also address social, psychological and other needs,” says Dr Tereza Tomanová, head physician of DIOP.
The need for such care is closely linked to developments in modern paediatrics. Thanks to medical advances, children with various serious diagnoses and conditions – which, just a few decades ago, would often have had little chance of survival – are now living long lives. However, once the acute phase has been managed, they may require long-term support, and their families must learn to cope with a completely new life situation.
It is precisely the DIOP department that acts as a vital link between acute care and the child’s return home or transition to follow-up care. The child no longer needs to be hospitalised in an acute care bed, yet it is not yet possible for them to be discharged to home care.
“We see great significance in the fact that a child can be moved from an acute care bed to an environment that is better suited to their needs. Parents can stay with their child here 24 hours a day and gradually learn the care they will then need to manage at home. So we work not only with the child, but with the whole family,” adds Dr Mahulena Exnerová, chief physician of the Supportive and Palliative Care Department at Hospital Hořovice.
The children cared for by the DIOP department have a wide variety of diagnoses. These may include, for example, children with genetic or metabolic disorders, those who have suffered serious injuries or damage to the central nervous system, children with severe developmental disabilities, or children who, as a result of complications arising from their underlying condition, require long-term support and comprehensive care.
Rehabilitation and efforts to support the child in developing their abilities to the fullest extent possible are also an important part of the care. However, the outcome cannot be predicted in advance.
“With children who have suffered severe injuries or other serious conditions, we often do not know how their condition will progress. This makes us all the more delighted when we see even the slightest improvement. For the family, every such step can be a huge deal. And that is precisely why it is important to be able to offer the child care that goes beyond medicine itself,” says Dr Tereza Tomanová.
DEKApro travels to where help is needed
The DEKApro project is based on the power of community, craftsmanship and a willingness to help. Each year, the project travels to a different location and brings together people who crochet, knit and sew patchwork blankets for a good cause.
For this year’s edition, the choice fell on the DIOP ward at Hospital Hořovice. The Babíkov Association has collaborated with the ward in the past, and through this partnership, the children have received items such as positioning pillows and crocheted toys, which can help them cope with difficult moments during their hospital stay.
“Previously, DEKApro focused on care homes for the elderly or hospices for adults. But this time, I wanted to take a different approach and focus on children. The DIOP department in Hořovice was a natural choice for me, partly because we’d worked with the department before. I liked the fact that, even though these children are very seriously ill, the environment doesn’t feel like a place where you’re just a patient. It’s not just professional, but also very human and homely,” explains Gabriela Šejbová, founder and driving force behind the Babíkov association.
According to her, it is precisely this human dimension of care that is one of the reasons why the association wants to link the project specifically with DIOP.
“I’d like people from different generations to be able to get involved in the event, so they can see who their help is actually going to, whilst also enjoying the whole afternoon. We’ve put together a packed programme for the whole family, featuring music, entertainment and activities for children,” says Gabriela Šejbová.
DEKApro DIOP will take place on Saturday 19 September 2026 from 12.30 pm at the Nový rybník complex in Příbram. Performers on stage will include David Kraus and the Gipsy Brothers, Canzonetta, František Nedvěd Jr. and Janchi. There will also be a wide-ranging programme of supporting events. Even the youngest visitors will find something to enjoy. There will be face painting, and Hobby Horsing Beroun will also be joining the visitors . The organisers are preparing a range of other activities, so whole families can enjoy this charity afternoon.
Entry to the event is free. The programme will also include a charity auction and the option to ‘adopt’ a blanket for those who wish to contribute but do not need to take the blanket home themselves.
The proceeds from DEKApro for Hospital Hořovice are intended to help develop care that can provide children and their families not only with medical support, but also with greater comfort, social interaction, stimulation and ways to cope during this challenging time.
“It is important to us that we can take a truly holistic approach to care. And it is precisely activities such as hippotherapy, canine-assisted therapy, aromatherapy, play therapy and other supportive methods that form an integral part of that care,” adds Dr Mahulena Exnerová.
Come and spend a lovely afternoon full of fun, music and positive energy, whilst supporting a good cause. Every blanket, every donation and every act of help makes a difference.
We would like to thank the non-profit organisation Babíkov for organising the DEKApro event and for its long-term support of children and their families. A big thank you also goes to everyone who is involved in the project through their handicrafts, financial support, volunteering or by attending the charity afternoon.
