This week, we want to help the family of a little girl who is fighting for her life in hospital after catching the flu.

Three-year old Ivie Boulton from Yate was first taken ill on January 24. She became very ill very quickly … her feet and fingers turned blue and she was very drowsy. Her mum and dad took her to an emergency appointment with her local doctor, who immediately called for an ambulance.

Ivie had fluid around her heart caused by an infection and doctor’s needed to remove it urgently. But as they tried, her heart failed. She was given CPR and put on a life support machine. Ivie is still fighting, but her heart is not working. She has now been moved to a specialist hospital in Newcastle as she needs a heart transplant. She is on dialysis to support her kidneys and her lungs have collapsed, so they need to get her stronger before she is able to be put on the transplant list.

Evie’s parents, Scarlett and Gavin, have three other children - Grace (Ivie’s twin sister), Kyla (aged 9) and Lexus (aged 12). Scarlett works as a delivery driver and Gavin is in construction. They were all staying in accommodation run by the Sick Children’s Trust initially, but the children are now going to be cared for by their aunt while their parents are up in Newcastle, which is likely to be months. They have had some great support from the local community, and friends and family have started a fundraising page to try to help cover their living costs. But this is a family who can do with all the kindness and support they can possibly get.

With your help, we wold love to do something kind for them during this horrific time.