Make Some Noise: Lucy's Story

Dawn discusses how Forget Me Not Children’s Hospital helped her after the birth of her daughter Lucy: Within minutes of being born Lucy was whisked away from me and rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She was not breathing and for the next three hours I had to endure the heartache of not knowing if she had even survived.

Finally I remember one of the neonatal nurses telling me that the Doctor wanted to have a word with me. 

I asked the nurse "Will we be able to take her home?" to which she replied, " You will take her home and you will love her no matter what".

I was just so relieved. I think I already had a feeling that our lives were going to be very different but the only thing that was important then and still is now, was that my little girl was alive. 

Lucy had been starved of oxygen during delivery and the consequences of this were to have an enormous impact on her life. As a result she has quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, which is a condition that affects the muscles and leaves her dependent on a wheelchair. 

In addition Lucy suffers from epilepsy, visual impairment and global developmental delay. I am her full time carer and in return she is my inspiration. She has taught me so much about life and I am so proud to be her Mum. 

In her eight short years she has brought joy and understanding into so many people’s lives, much more than I alone could ever achieve in my entire life time.

Forget Me Not Children's Hospice has helped us as a family in so many ways. The Hospice At Home Service has enabled me to have a break from my caring responsibilities. 

The hospice has taken the time to get to know Lucy and all of her 'Little Ways'. This in turn has given me the confidence to hand over the reins and have some valuable time off. I can re-charge my batteries, get on with other household tasks and more importantly spend some quality time with her brother Joshua.

 I do not know what the future holds but I do know that every moment with Lucy is special. With the help of Forget Me Not Children's Hospice we are able to make new and wonderful memories with every precious day that we have ... Memories that we will cherish forever.

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