There are no words that can do justice to the impact Henry had on all our lives. He was such a kind, caring, gentle soul and our world will never be the same.  

Hen lived life to its absolute fullest and never let his disability be a reason to not do something, packing more experiences into his short life than many people manage in a whole lifetime. Family, friends, football, festivals and food were at the centre of Hen’s world and we have so many precious memories of the time we all spent with him sharing those things.

We’ve taken huge comfort in the memories others have shared about how important Hen was to them and the way he touched their lives. It would be wonderful to hear more, so please do use this tribute page to tell us about your favourite memories of Hen and the things you did together.  

In Hen’s name we are fundraising for two very special organisations which had a significant impact in his life:  Acorns and the Shakespeare Hospice.

The word ‘hospice’ usually triggers an image of a loved one at the end of their life. Henry’s experience was the polar opposite to this, as these wonderful organisations also enable individuals and their families to navigate the challenges, changes, heartbreak and joys of living with life-limiting conditions.

When Henry first began staying at Acorns Children’s Hospice in Worcester, he was an early, part-time, reluctant, wheelchair user. Whilst there, he was befriended by a gang of older boys also living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy who were full-time wheelchair users and took great pleasure in sharing the joys of high speed driving, skidding stops and even ‘wheelies’. Meeting others experiencing the same things as him was life-changing as suddenly he had a gang to admire and feel a part of. The impact on his confidence and self-esteem was immeasurable.

They enjoyed film nights, midnight feasts, trips out, PlayStation battles and choosing any food their hearts desired from the wonderful kitchen (usually lasagne in Henry’s case). The boys could sleep in, have their beds rolled into the garden on sunny days, and access incredible resources such as hydrotherapy sessions, which were a high point for Hen.

Sadly, due to funding issues, Acorns had to reduce the upper age limit for users and in his mid-teens, Henry’s Acorns journey came to an end.

Happily, he transitioned over to the Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford-upon-Avon, ably supported by the expert young people's team there, who helped guide him through the difficult transition from his incredible life at Treloar’s school and college, to moving back home. 

The team supported Hen in numerous ways including helping him access his bespoke wheelchair and a car, bringing him an even greater sense of freedom and autonomy, which was so important to us and him.  The time he spent there was an invaluable outlet as he managed life living with Duchenne. 

Hen’s hospice experiences were never about dying. Instead, they were about supporting him to live life and make the most of every opportunity. They were about friends, laughter, connection and love.

We are immensely grateful for the support they gave our whole family and particularly Hen.  The amazing team and peers he met during his visits to both Acorns and the Shakespeare Hospice had a life-long impact on his self-esteem and confidence. We can never thank them enough.  

Your donations will enable other children with life-limiting conditions, and their families, to continue to access their outstanding support at a time when resources are stretched more than ever.

DONATE HERE

Thank you.