Catherine 's page
Catherine Hatton is raising money for Keech Hospice Care
In memory of Abrianna Hatton
Story
On 21st March 2013 the most beautiful little girl was born and I had the privilege of being her mummy. Little did we know but she had a rare degenerative neurological condition called Krabbe disease and sadly passed away 2 and a half years later surrounded by her family at Keech Hospice Care.
Abrianna was born normal like every other baby and at the age of 10 months started to show symptoms. Krabbe disease is a fatal inherited genetic condition affecting the nervous system. Infants with Krabbe disease are normal at birth. Symptoms can begin between 3 months and a year with irritability, fevers, limb stiffness, seizures, feeding difficulties, vomiting, and slowing of mental and motor development. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, spasticity, deafness, blindness, paralysis and difficulty when swallowing. Prolonged weight loss may also occur. Children with Krabbe disease don't usually live past the age of 2.
When we were given the news, the medical professionals suggested that Abi was referred for support from Keech Hospice Care. A hospice in the past had only ever meant one thing to me, a place people go to die. But Keech are far more than that. Yes it was where Abrianna spent the last of her days but our Princess also attended 'Tots and Toys', a play group organised by Keech once a week where she got to play and interact with other children with life limiting conditions, while the parents and carers get to chat. While Abi was at 'Tots and Toys' she received complimentary therapies, she had Reiki and Reflexology which made a great difference to her. There is a hydrotherapy pool available to use and there are monthly parents and sibling support groups before and after loss. Keech are always putting on activities to attend like Easter egg hunts and therapy animal visits. They organise memory making activities and sent play specialists to our home. Keech also sent an Art Therapist to her brother's school once a week to help him though the difficult time.
At the end of her life they welcomed the whole of our family in, it became our home for the last of her days. While they were outstanding with her care and made sure she was always comfortable they never forgot any of us. They made sure we were all ok, fed, watered and supported. They regularly took Joshua out for the day, kept him entertained and his spirits up. Once she passed she was able to stay at the hospice surrounded by people she knew and we got to visit her whenever we liked until her funeral, the funeral they helped us plan.
Keech is such a wonderful place that has taught us so much but they cannot carry on this amazing care without charity donations. That is why I want to Trek China in her memory. If I raise £38 it pays for one of the hundreds of hours of nursing care Abrianna received and £43 is the cost of just one of the art therapy sessions Joshua had. There is no way I could put a price on the care our daughter received but if I can give something back it would be amazing.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
Abrianna was born normal like every other baby and at the age of 10 months started to show symptoms. Krabbe disease is a fatal inherited genetic condition affecting the nervous system. Infants with Krabbe disease are normal at birth. Symptoms can begin between 3 months and a year with irritability, fevers, limb stiffness, seizures, feeding difficulties, vomiting, and slowing of mental and motor development. Other symptoms include muscle weakness, spasticity, deafness, blindness, paralysis and difficulty when swallowing. Prolonged weight loss may also occur. Children with Krabbe disease don't usually live past the age of 2.
When we were given the news, the medical professionals suggested that Abi was referred for support from Keech Hospice Care. A hospice in the past had only ever meant one thing to me, a place people go to die. But Keech are far more than that. Yes it was where Abrianna spent the last of her days but our Princess also attended 'Tots and Toys', a play group organised by Keech once a week where she got to play and interact with other children with life limiting conditions, while the parents and carers get to chat. While Abi was at 'Tots and Toys' she received complimentary therapies, she had Reiki and Reflexology which made a great difference to her. There is a hydrotherapy pool available to use and there are monthly parents and sibling support groups before and after loss. Keech are always putting on activities to attend like Easter egg hunts and therapy animal visits. They organise memory making activities and sent play specialists to our home. Keech also sent an Art Therapist to her brother's school once a week to help him though the difficult time.
At the end of her life they welcomed the whole of our family in, it became our home for the last of her days. While they were outstanding with her care and made sure she was always comfortable they never forgot any of us. They made sure we were all ok, fed, watered and supported. They regularly took Joshua out for the day, kept him entertained and his spirits up. Once she passed she was able to stay at the hospice surrounded by people she knew and we got to visit her whenever we liked until her funeral, the funeral they helped us plan.
Keech is such a wonderful place that has taught us so much but they cannot carry on this amazing care without charity donations. That is why I want to Trek China in her memory. If I raise £38 it pays for one of the hundreds of hours of nursing care Abrianna received and £43 is the cost of just one of the art therapy sessions Joshua had. There is no way I could put a price on the care our daughter received but if I can give something back it would be amazing.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.