My daughter Lauren was a bright, confident, out going, in her own words, sassy young lady. She was loving life and looking forward to an exciting future with plans to go to university to study psychology... and who knows where she'd have ended up... but now we'll never know. sadly on the 22nd Aug 2019 she never woke up. 

Lauren had been visiting Birmingham Children's Hospital since she was 12 months old, when after almost losing her at 11 months old, it was discovered she had a rare metabolic condition called L-Carnitine Transporter Deficiency. This condition meant that Lauren's body couldn't naturally convert to using fat stores when her blood glucose levels were running low. This meant she had to take daily medication, eat at regular times and avoid fasting. This effected numerous things, most evidently her heart. She had regular visits to the Inherited Metabolic Diseases team (IMD) and Heart Investigations. Despite battling an unseen condition Lauren refused to never give up. 

Lauren was a wonderfully young lady with a bright future ahead of her. She was always helping people. whether it was a friend in trouble or making new starters at her school feel welcome. Her free and easy nature meant she could talk to anyone. She'd often come home and tell me that she'd been sat at the bus stop talking to an old lady. She loved psychology and was hoping to use this to forge a career in helping people in some way. She really did live life to the fullest. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, listening to music, going to concerts & travelling. She enjoyed visits to many places including Krakow but in recent years we had started travelling further a field enjoying both Thailand and New York. Our bucket list was full. People we want to see in concert, places we want to travel to, adventures we wanted to take. Her zest for life was infectious, in a good way. 

Lauren was my only child and I her only parent. Following her death i set up White Butterfly Foundation in way of remembering her. Not only me but all the lives she touched. She will be unforgotten by so many people. Her grandad (my Dad) passed away when she almost 3. From then whenever she saw a white butterfly she'd say Grandi is here. Its amazing where we saw them, in New York, Thailand and in Greece. The day after Lauren passed away, I had just left the funeral home and two white butterflies where dancing together. I smiled through my tears. Dad and Lauren had found each other. 

For Lauren's funeral, this was written about her. Anyone who knew her would tell you this is Lauren in a nutshell.  This is Lauren's legacy. 

There are many colours on a white butterfly. 

Firstly black. Black is powerful, confident and a strong will. Lauren had a strong will, if she set her mind to something, she would go ahead and achieve it. Black also absorbs negativity. Lauren leaves you this colour, to be there when you need it, when you doubt yourself. Use that confidence to follow your dreams. 

Yellow - this colour is uplifting, offers hope, happiness, cheerfulness and fun. That was Lauren in a nutshell. From her singing antics, to her sassiness and appreciating what was around her. Lauren leaves you to have fun, you can study and work hard but there is always time to have fun. Whether going to a concert or out for a meal. Lauren wants you to try new things, to never be afraid to try something new and no matter how hard things can be, to have fun.

Brown - this is a down to earth colour; it is about protecting and support of family and friends. Lauren loved her family and friends and would always look after others. Lauren leaves you to help each other out, if you see someone needing help, go ahead and do it, don't wait for someone else to do it. 

The last colour but the most important is white. White is clean and pure, a blank canvas waiting for the creation of your mind and what it can achieve. White balances all the other colours, its main point is equality, fairness, peace and calm. Lauren achieved so much in the time that she was here. She lived life to the full, loved to go to new places, she absorbed those around her. Lauren leaves you to accept each other for who you are, to accept diversity, to see the world without hate or upset and to make sure you never put off til tomorrow what you can do today. 

This is Lauren's legacy, imagine if all of us here today put this into action, encourage others to do the same and we have that ripple effect that many many people are putting this in to practice. We can do this xx  Next time you see a white butterfly come past, think of Lauren and her legacy. 

 Its my mission to help to raise as many funds as possible for this wonderful hospital. I want to keep Lauren's legacy alive, that way her memory will never die. 

Thank you to all who have supported me so far.