While the annual flurry of festive commercials from John Lewis and Waitrose dominates the airwaves, one 2025 Christmas advert stands apart for its raw emotional power and profound message of hope.
A Glimpse into a Hospital Christmas
Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) has released a fly-on-the-wall Christmas advert that offers a poignant look into the lives of families with seriously ill children during the festive season. The two-minute film, set to the backing track of Coldplay's All My Love, captures the immense strength, courage, and unexpected joy found within the hospital's walls.
The heartwarming footage shows children being delighted by a prima ballerina performing on the ward, a special visit from Santa and his elves, and a party brimming with sparkling Christmas decorations. The advert features 12 families and 20 different staff members, collectively painting a picture of a magical day crafted in the face of immense difficulty.
Ruby's Story: 700 Days in Hospital
One of the children highlighted is two-year-old Ruby. She has spent over 700 days at Great Ormond Street Hospital, including her first Christmas, after being diagnosed with an incredibly rare condition called PMM2-CDG. The condition was discovered when doctors found her heart was 'tiny and squeezed by a black mass'.
Ruby's mum, Elle, said she was 'so emotional' upon seeing the finished advert. She praised GOSH for 'pulling out all the stops to make [Christmas] as festive as possible when you have a sick child.'
Her dad, Steve, echoed this sentiment, revealing the profound impact of seeing his daughter on screen. 'I couldn't be more proud, I was moved to tears when I saw the advert,' he said. 'Ruby has been in a critical condition a number of times in the last two years, so to see her shining brightly on screen was a joy.'
In a remarkable act of love, Elle donated a piece of her own liver to Ruby. The family now harbours the hope of spending their first full Christmas together at home this year.
The Mission of the GOSH Charity Christmas Appeal
The advert serves as the centrepiece for the GOSH Charity's Christmas Appeal. The charitable organisation shared a powerful statement: 'When you're young, Christmastime should be about getting ready for a visit from Santa, not for lifesaving surgery. Some children have to do both. No child should have to spend the festive period in hospital.'
'But when they have to, we do everything we can to make it feel like home. Because every moment matters for seriously ill children.'
Donations to the appeal will support several critical areas:
- Funding research to find new treatments and cures for the rarest and most complex childhood illnesses.
- Bringing joy to the wards through activities like tree decorating and carol singing.
- Providing free accommodation near the hospital for families with a child in intensive care.
The advert has already deeply resonated with viewers on social media. One Instagram user, cj_b.kind, who spent a childhood Christmas in hospital, commented: 'So beautiful and heartfelt... I know how magical it is to have this experience when you feel you're missing Christmas at home.'
Another, Supersidwilfred, wrote: 'This is so lovely! You work so hard to make really difficult times have glimmers of gorgeousness.' The overwhelming response confirms that this heartfelt campaign has truly captured the spirit of Christmas for 2025.
