LEIGH SMITH

Beatrice Octavia Iris Smith Brighter Future Fund

Fundraising for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity
£38,384
raised of £43,000 target
by 724 supporters
Beatrice Octavia Iris Smith, 10 February 2014
We help the hospital offer a better future to seriously ill children across the UK

Story

Thank you for taking the time to visit Beatrice's Brighter Future Fund Justgiving page

Our beautiful Beatrice sadly passed away on the 24th February 2014.

Her battle for life was one she could not win, though she gave it her best shot.  She was diagnosed with Restrictive Cardiomyopathy a rare disease of the cardiac muscle and was treated by the excellent cardiac specialist teams at GOSH. She deteriorated rapidly from first diagnosis on the 10th January 2014 until she died on the 24th February.  For the first 6 weeks of her life we were oblivious to how unwell she was and she completed us as a family.We enjoyed her smiles and her first Christmas.

She and we as a family, received exceptional care from everyone at GOSH. She made it to the top of the UK heart transplant list but her size, frailty and time were against her. After fighting the hardest of battles, showing strength and courage far greater than her age she could fight no more. Her heart was too tired. The team at GOSH  ensured her passing was pain free and peaceful.

We will miss her every second of every day. Her courage and bravery are an inspiration. GOSH and all those who work within it gave her the chance of life and the most graceful and peaceful death we could ever have asked for.We never thought we would have first hand experience and really wish we didnt, but we are so thankful that our beautiful Beatrice was cared for with such compassion by such amazing people They were there for her and for us. The support and kindness shown to our family was and is immeasurable. This hospital and every single person we came across is truly exceptional, world class. We will forever be grateful to them for everything they have done for our beautiful girl and they will always be a massive part of our lives. 

There is no price that can be placed on this, nor anything than can mend our heartache and bring our little girl back, but giving, spreading the word of Beatrice's page and making as much as we can for this incredible hospital will help other children and their families like us. Through this the positive legacy of our beautiful Beatrice will live on.

We thank you all so much for your support, love and generosity 

All our love

The Smiths xxxx

 

 Hi all, 

This page now takes on a new importance. We have contacted GOSH and requested that any money raised in Beatrice's Brighter Future fund go towards specific cardiac related needs. They have told us that they need to find the final portion of a Heart and Lung Bypass machine.  These machines cost a total of £166, 000. They still need to raise £43,000 and so we have requested that any money raised on this page goes towards this piece of vital equipment. If Bea had been bigger and stronger and a heart had come along equipment like this would have been life saving. Whilst for Bea it may be too late, for others like her it is not. We were lucky enough to see the amazing use of such equipment in other beautiful little boys and girls. It would be incredible to know that Bea's influence and inspiration is continuing to make such a difference to so many other poorly children and babies just like her to give them a brighter future. Please if you can spread the word of this page, tell her story,  fundraise, do what ever you can. It really can make such a difference.  

 

For more information please also visit Beatrice's Fundraising page

https://www.facebook.com/BeatriceOctaviaIris 

 

 

 

 

About the charity

We fundraise to enhance Great Ormond Street Hospital’s ability to transform the health and wellbeing of children and young people. Donations help to fund advanced medical equipment, child and family support services, pioneering research and rebuilding and refurbishment.

Donation summary

Total raised
£38,383.03
+ £7,418.08 Gift Aid
Online donations
£33,904.09
Offline donations
£4,478.94

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