Top Derian House Ad on facebook

“Losing one of your twins means forever grieving the things you’re never going to experience.” – Daniella. Tommy and Arthur were born with a rare form of cerebral palsy. Derian House Children’s Hospice supported the family, offering short breaks for the boys, giving mum Daniella and dad Julian a chance to recharge. “At Derian they loved the hydrotherapy pool, sensory room and playground. When we were there we were just like any other family, it was magical,” said Daniella. But in May 2021, when the boys were 20-months-old, Arthur died unexpectedly in his sleep and the bottom fell out of their world. Losing one of your twins means forever grieving the things you’re never going to experience. Whenever Tommy reaches a milestone, I think ‘that’s what Arthur should be doing now’. The charity continues to support Tommy, now four-years-old. He still loves a splash in the hydrotherapy pool, and Daniella also sees one of the counsellors to help process her grief. “Having the support of people around me, like those at Derian House, gives me the strength I need to carry on. I can’t put into words how grateful we are. “It will always give me a great deal of comfort to know that we still have a little piece of Arthur within Tommy.”

Find out how you can win up to £10,000 this summer and help children struggling with terminal illnesses

Find out how you can win up to £10,000 this summer and help children struggling with terminal illnesses