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A day where the illness is not the focusEmilia (7) wants to make everyday hospital life sweeter for her little fellow patients – and RTL is helping her!
Joy, lightness and children's laughter!
In April 2025, Emilia (7) received the diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome. For six weeks she lay in the oncology intensive care unit at the Berlin Charité in a lock room – strictly isolated from the outside world. Many children spend weeks, sometimes even months, in the cancer ward. And so Emilia's big dream is a summer party. A celebration where the little patients can simply be one thing again between diagnoses, treatments and therapies: a child.
A break from the stressful clinical routine
Emilia has MDS. This means their bone marrow isn't producing enough healthy blood cells – a precursor to leukemia. When a donor was finally found, the seven-year-old received chemotherapy to prepare her body for the planned stem cell transplant. Emilia's immune system is completely shut down, which increases the risk of infection enormously. And so she has no other option than to initially live in isolation.
“It's sad because you're so alone in the room and then you can only look out”Emilia tells us when we meet her and her parents at the Charité for the interview. Among other things, she sweetened her isolation time with crafts and painting. Once she paints a picture of her dad Eric. And it is precisely from this drawing that the clinic has produced socks that are now being sold for a heartfelt wish that is not only intended to make Emilia happy: a children's party for the Charité's youngest patients.
With a bouncy castle, cotton candy machine, carousel and many other surprises, the 2026 children's festival is intended to give children and their families a break from the stressful everyday hospital life. A day where the focus is not on illness, but on joy, laughter and simply being a child.
“RTL – We help children”: Donate now for the children’s festival
“RTL – We help children” supports the Berlin Charité children’s festival.
RTL
To make this day very special, Emilia and her little fellow patients need your help. And that’s where “RTL – We help children” comes into play. Because your donation makes Emilia's festival possible.
You can donate to the Charité Children's Hospital children's festival here!
For example, with 25 euros you can help finance a creative offer or a play station. With 50 euros you can help provide a family with snacks and drinks. With 100 euros you can help provide technology, tents and equipment for the festival. Every single donation brings us a little closer to our goal and makes the 2026 children's festival possible.
