Lauren, Josh & PICU in memory of Leia

A week ago our worlds were turned upside down. The unimaginable had happened and we were powerless to the tragedy unfolding before our eyes.

On Wednesday 26th June at 11.45am, my daughter Lauren and son-in-law Josh had to say goodbye to their precious 7 week old baby girl Leia. The heartbreak was, and is, horrific. We are all lost.

Leia was admitted to hospital on Saturday 22nd June with what her parents thought was an unsettled tummy as she was not feeding well. In the coming days it became clear she had a heart condition called SVT. Very sadly, her heart stopped and she had to be resuscitated. Due to this, she was not able to recover, despite the best efforts of the team at Southampton PICU and the many people praying and willing her recovery from near and far.

Of course, if the tragedy were not hard enough, the world keeps turning and the bills still need to be paid whilst Lauren and Josh get used to a new ‘normal’.

My beautiful daughter and son-in-law are hard working and they are very proud. But they deserve time to grieve before having to return to work. I am therefore asking for your support for them.

They both wish to give half of anything raised here to the excellent PICU in Southampton who looked after Leia wonderfully and were so supportive to them and the whole family. The remaining half will be used just to allow them some time before having to rush back to work. We are grateful for any support received whether large or small - thank you xxx

Here is some more information about Friends of PICU:

The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Southampton is the regional specialist 16 bed ward for Southern England and the Channel Islands. 1000 Critically ill Children, newborn to 18years of age are admitted each year and cared for 24 hours a day with 1to1 nursing. The Friends of PICU supports these children and their families by providing vital equipment and services not provided by the statutory authorities and creating a suitable environment for the children to be cared within.