Yahoo News The special 'house' helping Merseyside families in their darkest moments
Claire House has been the “lifeline” for many families across Merseyside since it opened in 1998. Founders, Chris and Bobby Cain, from Wallasey, opened the hospice in memory of their daughter Claire, who suddenly became seriously ill while the couple were expecting their fourth child.
Claire was diagnosed as having a malignant tumour behind her nose and eye and the regular hospital visits meant the family couldn’t all stay together. Claire died in July 1989, aged nine.
Chris and Bobby wanted to help other families going through similarly traumatic experiences, and they have so helped many people. Hayley Smallman is just one example. Her daughter, Holly Smallman, spent her life under the care of Claire House because of her complex needs. Doctors had warned her parents it was likely Holly would not live to see her first birthday, let alone be able to leave hospital.
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Holly, from Aintree, had cerebral palsy, lung disease, epilepsy, needed support eating and drinking, relied on a vent for oxygen and was wheelchair dependent. Her needs meant she was on palliative care as soon as she was born.
Her mum, Hayley Smallman, previously told the ECHO: "We were told she would never come out of hospital and she tested every kind of expectation and she pushed past it. Love kept Holly alive, to get her to her 18th birthday was a dream come true."
Holly died in March 2020. Her mum, Hayley, 47, said if it wasn't for the support of Claire House the family wouldn't have got through the tough years Holly battled.
She said: "What is so special about Claire House is the expertise around caring for children with highly complex needs is second to none, it's so unique within our community, you can't find it anywhere else. When you have to learn these complex skills to just keep your child alive the help you receive is invaluable. You can't replicate it. Claire House became our life line from the minute we met them.”
Ava Harris is another example of the amazing support Claire House give. Katie Lowe, whose eight-year-old daughter, Ava, sadly died after being diagnosed with the rare condition of Metachromatic Leukodystrophy. Her mum previously told the ECHO how the family wouldn’t have had the strength to get through what happened without the support of Claire House.
She said: “Claire House was like a saving grace for us. They helped me, her dad and everyone through everything. We had days out with them, overnight stays, everything. They were brilliant.
“I can't explain how much they helped us. They went above and beyond and made it so special. Even now I get counselling every week at Claire House, they have been constantly involved.” The family have since raised over £2,000 for the hospice as their way of saying thank you for the continued support. Katie added: “I want to give back as much as I can for them and raise money to help them and keep Ava's memory alive.”
These are just two examples of the hundreds of families Claire House has helped in the last 26 years. The hospice is now urgently asking for the public’s help to continue helping families. This autumn, they’re asking people to donate their unwanted and pre-loved items to one of its charity shops.
A spokesperson for Claire House said: “Every quality item donated helps the charity to provide even more care and support to seriously ill babies, children and young adults.
“When donors give something that’s in great condition, it sells faster in the charity shops and raises more money. And that extra cash goes directly towards helping families at its Wirral hospice and at its West Derby site, as well as out in the community.”
You can help Claire House by donating these items:
Tops (men’s and women’s)
2. Shoes
3. Handbags
4. Toys
5. Gift Aid
