Silver Cross is proud to support Martin House Children’s Hospice, helping to raise vital funds and awareness for an extraordinary charity that provides free, family-led hospice care to children and young people with life-limiting conditions. This Children’s Hospice Week, we’re shining a light on the incredible difference care like this makes to families. We’re honoured to share Evelyn’s story - a powerful reminder of the compassion, support and comfort Martin House brings to those who need it most.
Our daughter, Evelyn, was born fighting for her life after suffering a severe brain injury from a loss of oxygen during birth. She lived with complex medical needs, seizures and a shortened life expectancy. Managing her condition meant juggling a busy calendar of appointments and administering up to 18 different medications day and night.
We were referred to Martin House Children's Hospice who initially visited us at home. We made beautiful artwork as a family and received much-needed emotional and practical support in coming to terms with such an uncertain future.
Later, we visited the hospice for respite stays which gave us a chance for us to enjoy family time, to be looked after ourselves and to be simply parents rather than focussing on all our medical roles.
We also used the hospice for symptom control stays when Evelyn’s seizures escalated beyond what we could manage on our own. This allowed doctors to make changes to Evelyn’s medication whilst avoiding long hospital admissions where our family would have been split across different locations.
The gift of time
When Evelyn began to significantly deteriorate, Martin House supported us through navigating her end-of-life care plan so she could pass away peacefully in our arms at home.
We transferred to one of their special bedrooms, giving our wider family a safe space to visit, say their goodbyes and wrap us in practical support during the darkest days of our lives.
Having access to the hospice facilities and its amazing medical professionals gave us the precious gift of time - not spent in sterile hospital wards, but at home where Evelyn truly belonged, surrounded by laughter, noise and the chance to play with her big brother.
When your child dies, a part of you is lost with them. The trauma stays with you, reshaping your personality and creating an overbearing sense of fear and anxiety. As the world keeps turning, the outside support naturally slips away, even though a massive piece of your own world has stood completely still.
Yet, as parents, you have no choice but to keep going for the sake of those around you, frequently just plastering over the broken pieces while carrying a constant, heavy grief that simply doesn't get easier with time.
Support every step of the way
When I became pregnant with my youngest son, Martin House supported us every step of the way, helping us cope with the immense weight of the unknown and a lot of time spent back in deeply triggering hospital appointments.
Since his birth, we’ve joined Dragonflies, the hospice’s parent and baby group which supports families navigating the complex reality of parenting after loss.
It has been a profound relief to have a safe space where we can truly express our feelings; confronting our own anxieties, like the fear of our new baby developing similar symptoms, or the reluctance to leave them or accept external help.
It also helps us prepare for challenging conversations, like being asked how many children you have, and difficult milestones such as reaching the age at which their older sibling died, and to cope with anniversaries or the poignant 'what ifs' like their first day of school.
It is a space where we can openly talk about any concerns for older siblings and share the uncomfortable, bittersweet reality of how lost you can feel, even while existing in a beautiful, loving and fulfilling family life.
A continuing lifeline
Both of our boys absolutely love visiting Martin House and are always excited to join in with crafts, music, playing with the huge selection of toys and making the most of the beautiful gardens.
Evelyn’s life was filled with love and she met all of our friends and family. Martin House was our beacon of hope and supported us when we felt entirely helpless. Even now, they continue to be our lifeline, helping us navigate the emotional rollercoaster that comes after the worst has already happened.
The support Martin House gives to families like ours is only possible thanks to the generosity of the public. If you can, please consider donating here.
