This week, we’d like to help a family who recently lost their 8-year-old daughter, Amy.

Amy was 18 months old when her heart suddenly stopped. She was unconscious for a long time before paramedics were able to revive her. She suffered a major hypoxic brain injury and spent the next couple of years in hospital.

Her family eventually had to relocate to Oxfordshire to be closer to the hospital, leaving behind their home, their friends, and their entire support network. 

Despite everything she faced, Amy was a smiley little girl who loved being outside and understood so much of what was going on around her. Her parents and her 16-year-old big brother cared for her around the clock for almost 6 years to give her the very best life they could.

In July, Amy sadly passed away. She was only 8 years old. Her family are heartbroken and their home feels painfully quiet. And on top of their grief, they now have a lot of financial worries too.

Amy’s mum recently needed emergency surgery, and neither parent is well enough to work at the moment. They live in a council property and have fallen behind on their bills. Their son is trying to keep up with his school coursework, but it’s been really tough.

They were nominated by a support worker from a children’s charity who told us that a little bit of kindness would make an enormous difference for them all right now.

We’d like to provide some things their son needs for school, buy Christmas presents, pay off their utility bill debts, and provide some grocery vouchers so they can try to relax and just be together in lead-up to their first Christmas without Amy. It will help give them some breathing space to grieve without the financial stress looming over them.

*Name has been changed