NI four year old girl paints pictures for elderly and sick

A four-year-old child from Northern Ireland has painted dozens of pictures to give to the elderly and sick children who may feel lonely due to the Coronavirus crisis.
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Co Armagh girl Poppy Ashton, who has a little brother Jude with an immune deficiency, got the idea when she was concerned she couldn’t visit her Great Uncle Billy at Mahon Hall Nursing Home in her native Portadown.

Mum Kirsty Hannah said Poppy, who is a pupil at Hart Memorial Nursery, is just so kind and thoughtful and always thinking of others.

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“She is the sweetest, kindest and most selfless little girl,” said Mum.

Poppy Ashton with her colouring book and pencilsPoppy Ashton with her colouring book and pencils
Poppy Ashton with her colouring book and pencils

Poppy bombarded mum Kirsty and dad Luke Ashton, both teachers, with loads of questions about Coronavirus and Covid-19.

Kirsty said: “Last week she started to ask 50,000 questions about Coronavirus and understandably became concerned about if we self-isolate who would visit the elderly and sick in hospital.”

She was particularly concerned at not seeing her Great Uncle Billy who is in Mahon Hall.

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Mum explained that Poppy’s little two year old brother Jude has been ill and spends quite a bit of time in hospital as he suffers from Immunoglobulin and is very prone to infections.

Poppy Ashton posting her pictures to the Blossom Ward at Craigavon Hospital.Poppy Ashton posting her pictures to the Blossom Ward at Craigavon Hospital.
Poppy Ashton posting her pictures to the Blossom Ward at Craigavon Hospital.

“We are both teachers and often one of us has to spend a lot of time with Jude in hospital. For her last birthday she said, all she wanted was for Jude to be home,” said Kirsty.

And her caring nature certainly has come to the fore as she is determined lots of people know she is thinking about them at this time.

She has been worried about the elderly who are to be careful about going out and the vulnerable who are sick.

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Kirsty said: “All week she has been colouring pictures and drawing for people who are most vulnerable, in case no one can visit them due to Coronavirus.

Poppy Ashton with some of her paintingsPoppy Ashton with some of her paintings
Poppy Ashton with some of her paintings

“This week she set out to deliver her goods and ‘make sure they know she is thinking about them’,” said Kirsty.

“This kid makes me burst with pride,” said Mum.

“In the midst of all the madness this little four-year-old just wants to be kind to people.

“There is alot to be learned here,” said Kirsty.

She said that Luke, who plays rugby for Portadown Rugby Club, has not been playing because of the Coronavirus crisis.

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“But the club and players have been out helping people in the community in any way they can,” she said.

“I just wish more people were like Poppy. It maddens me people out panic buying with no thought for anyone else who might need those goods more.

“I just think the world would be a better place if we had little children like Poppy,” said Kirsty.