Mum’s heartfelt tribute on International Nurses Day

For toddler Harlow, Claire House Children’s Hospice provides a safe place to play and thrive. For mum Zoey, it is a comforting reminder of the support she received with son Liam who died, aged seven. Today, on International Nurses Day, Zoey celebrates the nurses and hospice which care for her family.

“Harlow was born prematurely at 31 weeks,” says mum Zoey Horrocks, from West Derby, Liverpool. “At the time, they thought she was okay.

“We then found out she had congenital heart defects and had hypoplastic right lung. She also wasn’t tolerating her feeds. And even after she started being fed through an IV, she wasn’t thriving or developing.”

Throughout this time, Harlow, now two, was in and out of hospital as she needed extra support with her breathing.

“We were told by one of the respiratory doctors that there was not much more they could do for Harlow from a breathing perspective and that we should think about planning for the worst while hoping for the best.”

Zoey, 34, had been supported by Claire House previously, as they had cared for her son Liam until he died aged seven in July 2021.

“Claire House supported us throughout Liam’s condition and especially while he was in hospital,” explains Zoey.

“Even when he wasn’t well enough to come home, they enabled us to leave the ward and come to its West Derby site for his birthday. It was truly special.

“But I will never be able to thank them enough for the support they gave once Liam passed away. The team supported me through the whole funeral process.

“They did loads of memory making with us, getting Liam’s handprints and making necklaces. And even after the funeral, they have stayed in touch and remembered every key date.”

Laura Sephton, from the hospice’s Rapid Response team, kept in touch and was there again when sister Harlow was referred to Claire House.

“Laura got me through some of my darkest days,” shares Zoey.

“She was always there for me, whether I needed to rant or just have someone to listen to me.”

Zoey’s son Liam spent more than a year in hospital.

“It was hard that sometimes Liam did not want to go home as he thought hospital was home. I did not want that for Harlow.

“Being in hospital is really tough for me because it brings back such bad memories.”

Palliative Care Nurse Specialist Laura and the Claire House team have worked closely with Zoey and the hospital to ensure that Harlow can spend as much time at home as she can.

“Laura made it possible for us to get out of hospital and go home.

“While Harlow’s overall condition is undiagnosed, she suffers with a variety of complex medical conditions which means she is in and out of hospital.

“Laura supports me with everything. Whether that is coming to appointments, supporting with any new treatments or helping with difficult conversations to ensure we are doing the best thing for Harlow.

“She has truly kept me sane.”

Harlow attended the Claire House Baby Group from when she was six months old, at both the Wirral hospice and Liverpool site, until she graduated the group at 18 months old.

Zoey says: “I could never take Harlow to the usual baby groups, they would not have been right for her. But coming to the Claire House baby group has meant so much.

“Even though all our babies are different, it is reassuring to talk to other parents who are going through similar things to us.

“Harlow loved the group, it was somewhere she could just be a baby and, as she grew, cause more trouble and entertain the staff!”

As well as attending the Claire House Baby Group, and being supported at home and in hospital, Harlow now has respite care.

“When Harlow comes in for respite, she keeps everyone on their toes,” shares Zoey.

“The first time she stayed, she was crawling everywhere and did not care that she was dragging all her cables after her!

“When she stays at Claire House, it truly means I can just be mum. The team take over her medical needs, even when we have been given a new routine, medication or equipment.”

Claire House, which supports seriously ill babies, children and young adults, will continue to be there for the family wherever and whenever they need it.

“After everything with Liam, to find out that Harlow was so unwell I was in a really bad place,” Zoey says.

“But to have Claire House there, it changed everything. I didn’t feel alone anymore.

“Thanks to Claire House I have got all my special memories of Liam and they have given Harlow the chance of life – this rollercoaster of life.”