Thanks for taking the time to read this.

This year Lee & I are running the Edinburgh half marathon for CHAS & particularly Robin House Children’s Hospice & in memory of Brodie Robert Gunn.

CHAS is a wonderful charity & one that has become very close to our hearts in recent months. Two friends of ours Rab & Emma Gunn had their fourth child & first boy in March last year who they named Brodie. Rab & Emma & his three big sisters Emily, Abbie & Kassie were over the moon to be taking beautiful Brodie home with them. Their first son & brother, Brodie was special from the start. 

Unfortunately, soon after bringing Brodie home Rab & Emma started to notice that something wasn’t quite right with little Brodie & after a very frustrating & worrying period they were eventually given the kind of news that parents dread. Brodie was diagnosed with Microcephaly, a condition that caused Brodies brain to stop developing properly during pregnancy, and it would ultimately cut his young life short. None of us can or want to imagine what this must have been like for Rab, Emma & the girls. The months after Brodies diagnosis were rough & Emma told me that things were beginning to get the better of her, Rab & the girls. 

It was around this time that they learned of CHAS & Robin House. The hospice would turn out to be a god send to their family. The amazing staff there were able to provide tremendous physical & emotional support that Brodie & the family were needing. Brodie received expert care from the team at Robin House tailored to suit his specific needs but they also provided much needed respite for Rab, Emma & the girls. This support allowed Rab & Emma to have quality time not only with Brodie but with each other & there three beautiful girls. There was a sensory room for Brodie, a hydro pool, an art room, a den, a movie room & a beautiful large garden to take long walks in. The family were able to stay at Robin House for as long as they needed to recharge the batteries & for Rab & Emma to catch up on some sleep knowing that Brodie was safe in the hands of the staff there. Robin House became a home from home for the family & they spent several weekends there. The hospice would also arrange fun weekends for the families to enjoy, take pictures & create memories that would become so precious. The staff at Robin House can even come out to your house to provide support at home if you need it. 

Robin house also provides end of life care for the children who go there when the time comes. This is all tailored to the particular needs & wishes of each child & family. The support given at this time is not only for the children’s final days but also for the family right up to the funeral & even beyond. Brodie was already in Robin House for their Christmas party, were the kids were meeting Santa & having family pictures taken with him, when a deterioration in his condition was noticed. He remained there surrounded by his loving family & the wonderful staff until the 19th of December when little Brodie passed away. When Rab , Emma & the girls carried Brodie out of Robin House all the staff who had cared for him & had grown so close to Brodie & the family over the months formed a guard of honour as Brodie left Robin House for the last time.

Since seeing Rab, Emma & the girls at Brodies funeral & the conversations I’ve had with Emma since, the thing that has shone through is the strength they have as a family. They don’t want to look back in anger at what has happened but have chosen instead to focus on the joy that Brodie brought to them & all who had the pleasure of his presence. Brodie has already had an amazing impact on the world he only inhabited for nine short months, please help us continue that impact by donating whatever you can to CHAS & Robin House but also by telling people about little Brodies story, his brave family & this amazing charity.

If you’d like to know more about CHAS & Robin House please visit their website here https://www.chas.org.uk/ or like & share their Facebook page.  

Thanks once again for taking the time to read about not only the charity but also a truly inspirational little boy & his family.