Our families

22-year-old Tamaana explains how Shooting Star Children’s Hospices has helped her navigate growing up with a sister who has a life-limiting condition.

Losing a brother or sister is a hard thing for a child to process. Grief is very individual, and every bereaved parent, brother and sister will experience a range of thoughts and feelings at different times. That’s why we offer many different opportunities for support for up to three years after a child dies. One…

Five-year-old Hadi has Spinal Muscular Atrophy type one, the severest form of a rare genetic condition that causes muscle weakness. “His life expectancy at first was no more than six months, but against all odds he’s reached the age of five,” said mum Sanaa.

Karen and Scott were told their middle child wouldn’t live past his fifth birthday. Now, with Jake aged 16, mum Karen explains how invaluable the support from Shooting Star Children’s Hospices has been to her whole family – particularly over the last 16 months.

The pandemic and lockdown presented many challenges for the families we care for, but the support from Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to Finn and parents Niamh and Toby, was all the more important when mum Niamh was diagnosed with cancer.

In March 2017 Oliver’s parents, Peter and Pippa received a diagnosis about their son that would change their lives.

“The minute he gets to the hospice, he’s just so animated, as soon as he’s through the door he’s smiling and knows everyone so well and for me when I get in there, I just feel so free,” says mum Michelle.

Born premature in August 2017, mum Emma immediately knew all was not right with her youngest daughter Mya.