Especially, if your child was born poorly and had been in and out of hospital for most of it's life. This is the reality facing most parents to a poorly child. However, imagine hearing the words, "Your child has a heart defect", "Your child will need heart surgery to maintain a quality of life otherwise they will die".
Congenital Heart Defects are the UK's number 1 cause of childhood deaths, even more so than childhood cancers. Yet, it receives significantly less awareness, funding and research. It is estimated 1 in 100 children every day will be born with some form of a heart defect. There is no cure for a child with a heart defect. Surgery and lifelong medication can stabilise their quality of life but due to lack of research and funding, there is no exact 'guidelines' on how long their lives will be.
Families of children with congenital heart defects often spend a lot of time in hospital, with appointments, surgeries, recoveries, infections and like almost all families with poorly children, long term hospital involvement has a huge financial strain on the household income. But everyone manages, because they have to.
Until their child dies. Suddenly their world is turned upside down through loss and they have to arrange a funeral, and say their goodbyes forever. There are many independent funeral directors across the UK who will not charge for their services for a child's funeral. Which is hugely generous at a devastating time. There are other costs involved too. Flowers, a Wake, and finally, a Headstone.
A final fitting tribute to Heaven's newest angel.
But sadly, a huge expense and in today's economic climate, some families struggle to make ends meet on a day to day basis; never mind adding in expenses like hospitals, funerals and headstones.
The Wings of a Butterfly team want to help families who's child has died from a congenital heart defect with providing a headstone.
If you would like our help, please complete the below form and we will get back to you.
