Leia's Gift In Memory of Our Thomas

Hi, my name is Helen and I am Leia and Thomas's Auntie.

Thomas was a delightful little boy, with the biggest blue eyes and brightest of smiles. He was really cheeky and mischievous, loved Tom Daley and his iPad and was partial to McDonald's chips. Once you met him, you couldn't help but love him.

Thomas had very complex medical needs and on 17th November 2023, one day after Leia's 14th birthday, he sadly passed away. Leia and Thomas were very close, despite his ability to wind her up at every opportunity so it was very important to spend time with Thomas while he was unwell, as he passed away and in the weeks leading up to his funeral.

When Thomas died, his parents were given a beautiful memory box containing prints of his handprints, clay imprints of his hands and feet, his fingerprints and locks of hair. Leia came away feeling very lost and like the relationship with her brother wasn't important to the hospital staff as she left the hospital without her brother and not even a leaflet to inform her of available support should she need it.

The following day, her mam and I took Leia for a walk along the beach in the most horrific weather and here she approached us asking if there was a way we could support other children going through the loss of a sibling. It was important to her that no other child felt the way she did. From this, Leia's Gift in Memory of Our Thomas was created.

After much research and consideration, Leia put together a bereavement box to support other children going through loss. Each box contains a number of items to work through, understand and process grief. A single box costs almost £100 to put together and since starting in January, Leia has sent out over 60 boxes, supporting 100 children through their loss, which couldn't be done without the help and donations we receive from our supporters.

Leia's aim is to have Leia's Gift in Memory of Our Thomas available in every hospital and hospice in the UK so that they can be given to children when they need them most. It is a huge goal to have but with your help, we can make it happen and continue to support children, in Thomas's memory