Adela, 22, to fundraise in memory of her brother ‘Simpsons go sightseeing’ to raise funds for Children’s Hospice South West At the end of May, Adela Mackie, along with her mum and some family friends, will be dressing up as characters from the popular TV programme, The Simpsons, and sightseeing in London to raise money for a cause very close to their hearts. Adela, age 22 from Bristol, is fundraising for Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) in memory of her brother, Nicholas, who died in March 2010 aged 14.
My fondest memories of Nicholas are the picnics we went on as a family, watching The Simpsons together daily and hearing his hearty laugh ripple through our home. His endlessly cheerful nature through his toughest battles make my brother the most inspirational person that I have ever known.”
Nicholas, Adela and their parents were referred to CHSW’s Little Bridge House in North Devon where they enjoyed respite stays giving them the chance to relax and make memories as a family. Adela Adela said: “I would tell the other children in remembers spending time with the dedicated my class at school that I have a big sibling team who were there to meet the spebrother called Nicholas. He can’t walk, talk, sit or stand’. This was the simplistic, child-like cial needs of well brothers and sisters. way in which I would articulate my brother’s “Words cannot describe how much my family condition.” is grateful for the support of Little Bridge Nicholas was born with a life-limiting condition House. Not only did they provide us with respite care throughout Nicholas’ life, but also which meant his parents, Lenka and Philip, a shoulder to lean on. Their sibling service made countless visits to hospital, many of was of immeasurable help to me. I met other which were spent in intensive care. Adela said: “I had learnt to help feed Nicholas via a brothers and sisters in my situation and I gastrostomy tube by the age of 3. By the age was able to talk freely about Nicholas without of 8, I could read oxygen saturation monitors having to explain anything. Everyone there already understood.” too.” When Nicholas died in March 2010, Adela was 11 years old. She said: “Losing a sibling at a young age can be an isolating “Nicholas was born in April 1995, three years experience. Most other children my age had not encountered the concept of death before, before me. This was the life I had always let alone that of a brother or sister. This is known. Most of the time, I did not even acknowledge that he had a medical condition. why supporting siblings, particularly those who have been bereaved, through Children’s He was just my big brother. His life was not Hospice South West is so incredibly important defined by those hospital visits. to me.” To Adela and her parents this was their ‘normal’.
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