Almost a year ago, our family’s lives were tragically changed forever.

My sister, her partner, and their daughter lost the most precious part of their lives—my beautiful baby nephew, Ferris. He passed away shortly after his first birthday. He only had one year on this Earth, and we only had one year to bask in his joy, his light, and the love he brought into all our lives.

There is nothing more cruel or heartbreaking than the loss of a child. It goes against the natural order of life. No child should ever have to leave this world so soon. The pain of losing Ferris is something that touches all of us—parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles. It’s a grief that never truly leaves; we just learn, day by day, how to carry it.

Life is now divided into “before” and “after.”

And the “after” is where my sister and her family are now—taking each day as it comes, doing their best to navigate a world that feels forever changed.

What I would love to do is create something meaningful for them—a peaceful memorial garden space at home.

A place where they can step outside and feel a moment of calm.

A place to reflect, to remember Ferris, and to simply breathe on the days that feel overwhelming.

A place where they don’t have to face the world, but can still feel connected to it through nature.

Right now, their garden isn’t a space that offers that comfort. My hope is to transform it into somewhere healing and gentle—a space filled with love, memory, and peace. Somewhere that supports their mental wellbeing during the hardest moments.

As we approach the one-year anniversary of losing Ferris, and what would be his second birthday, the weight of this loss feels even heavier. I would love to be able to give them this as a gift—from all of us—to show that they are not alone, that they are deeply loved, and that we are here for them.

Funds raised will go towards creating this memorial garden—improving the space, adding peaceful features, and potentially creating a small retreat area where they can sit, reflect, and find comfort.

If we are fortunate enough to raise more than needed, any additional funds will be donated to causes close to our hearts:

* Sheffield Children’s Hospital, for the incredible support they provide to families every day

* Meningitis Now, for their ongoing work in awareness, research, and support for families affected by meningitis

This idea was inspired by a beautiful memorial garden planter created by Ferris’ sister Phoebe—a reminder of how powerful a peaceful space can be in times of grief. We hope to create something just as special, including keeping her existing memorial planter as part of the garden, and perhaps adding a small summer house—a quiet little den for her to retreat to.

I know we can’t change what has happened—if we could, we would in a heartbeat. But when we ask “what can we do?”, this is something we can do.

Any donation, no matter how small, would mean the world. And if you’re unable to give, simply sharing this page would help more than you know.

Thank you for reading, for your kindness, and for helping us create something beautiful in memory of our precious Ferris.