Tiny Callie-Rose didn’t live long enough to make it to Christmas Day – but, thanks to CHAS, her parents were able to experience a little bit of joy this festive season.
The five-week-old baby girl died last week the day after a Christmas Party at Robin House hospice that was filled with laughter, music and love.
CHAS – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland – help parents who face the bleak knowledge that their child has a life-shortening condition.
In the short time Callie-Rose’s family had with her, they were able to squeeze in milestones and memories that will stay with them forever.
Born with Edwards Syndrome, she wasn’t expected to survive long, so each day with her parents Isla Limbert and Stephen Martin was special.
The family, from Dunoon, spent most of their daughter’s short life at the children’s hospice on the banks of Loch Lomond, where a specialist team were on hand to make sure that Callie-Rose was free from pain.
Isla, 25, who also has a seven-year-old son, Struan, found out six weeks from birth that something was wrong with her baby.
As she tenderly cradled her daughter, she said: “This is not the Christmas I imagined when I was pregnant.
“But staying here has been absolutely amazing and they have gone above and beyond to help us.
“To be here today for the party is a bonus, because it’s not something we expected to get.”
CHAS provide support to families throughout the year but Christmas is always a poignant time, because for some children it may be their last.
The charity go to great lengths to organise three Christmas parties at Robin House and at Rachel House in Kinross each year.
At last week’s event, children were dressed up, faces painted, miniature ponies dressed as reindeers clip-clopped into the melee and Santa distributed gifts.
Debbie and Stephen Elliott and their son Andrew, six, from Cardonald, near Glasgow, have been coming to Robin House for three years.
Andrew has cerebral palsy and complex needs.
He can’t speak but communicates with his eyes, which were smiling throughout the party.
Mum Debbie, his full-time carer, said: “We feel very comfortable here, we feel at home.”
The Mackintosh family have also been coming to Robin House for several years.
Able seaman Rory, who is based in Greenock with the Royal Navy, said Robin House is a home from home for daughter Emma.
The 11-year-old has cerebral palsy, suffers from seizures, is registered blind and has microcephaly.
She can’t communicate but loves the Christmas carols and other sensory delights associated with the festivities.
The party is also designed for the referred children’s siblings, such as Evie Heenan, nine, whose brother Feargus, three, has CHARGE syndrome.
Children regularly pass away at Robin House but for the families it will always be a happy place where they spent precious moments together.
Family support manager Corinna Robertson said: “We try to make every day about living. We try really hard to stay away from sadness.”
