Family stories

Five year old Aidan was born with a rare condition called cystic hygroma. His condition requires daily medical management and affects his breathing, eating and speech.

Shortly after twin boys, Keanu and Bodhi were born,  joy quickly turned to devastation when Keanu fell ill with meningitis, leading to severe swelling in his brain. His family have had to come to terms with his illness and life-long care needs.

Four year old Talia was born with a number of serious medical conditions. She needs 24/7 care and Alexander’s Care Team gives her family the vital support they need to cope with every day life.

Here his family share their story on coming to terms with Jude’s condition and how support from Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service is helping them cope with everyday life.

Shailza, the boys mother, shares some insight into life with her boys and the invaluable support she gets from Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service.

Anna’s mum, Kay speaks of the vital support the Alexander Care Team gave to her and her family in helping to cope with the impact of Anna’s condition and loss of her beautiful daughter.

Kia’s mum, Rachel, explains how invaluable Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service has been in caring for Kia and supporting the family especially through the current times.

Shortly after Barnaby was born in January 2008, Barnaby’s parents were given the devastating news that the healthy baby they expected had a severe and rare brain disorder called Lissencephaly. This is his story.

Aayushi has a progressive neurological disorder. Her condition sadly worsened soon after lockdown and her parents were worried that she may not make it to her 18th birthday in May.

Jessica’s parents were told by doctors that she might not live past her toddler years and so they devoted themselves to providing her with the highest quality of life and making sure Jessica had the chance to live her life to the full.

Four year old Harry is a happy little boy who loves to read books, zoom around in his wizzybug car and play with his sisters. But his mum Jenny shares how his life is very different to other children his age. 

Like most boys his age, Marcus loves playing computer games, playing in the park or with his beloved cat Pebbles. But Marcus’s life is sadly anything but ordinary. He was diagnosed late with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare progressive muscle wasting disease.

18 year old Aaron describes himself as “smart and creative” and always striving “to achieve a positive attitude towards life”. At the age of two he was diagnosed with a rare muscular dystrophy, which causes him to have significant muscle weakness that is deteriorating over time. 

Habibah is a wonderful young lady who always fills our hospice with delicious baking smells and laughter as her two favourite things to do during her visits to the hospice is baking and pranking our Alexander’s Nurses!