Rebecca

Age 5

Keech Hospice Care

"My Hero"

Rebecca is five years old. Throughout the first year of Rebecca's life she suffered from developmental delay, not reaching the normal milestones and being very agitated most of the time.

At 13 months she suffered a series of strokes due to high inflammation in her brain and throughout her whole body. These strokes have left her unable to sit up, stand, walk, talk or eat. She is tube fed and relies on her parents for all of her care.

Rebecca is an extremely happy, interactive little girl who loves kisses, cuddles and lots of attention. Her favourite person in the whole world is her daddy Mark. Mark gave up work to be with Rebecca the whole time she was in Great Ormond Street - he did not leave for three months, until the day he could leave with Rebecca. Mark is still Rebecca's full-time carer - they have a wonderful relationship and make each other so happy. Rebecca's smile lights up the room when her daddy walks in. Mark enjoys all the time and fun they have together - even if it is 3am when Rebecca needs him or playing in the garden in the afternoon; he is there for her 24/7. This love and commitment has certainly paid off and can be seen through Rebecca's continued development.

To see the two of them together it is obvious that Rebecca's daddy is her ‘hero', but Rebecca is Mark's little ‘heroine' too.

Please note this case study (images and copy) must not be used or replicated in any other form without prior consent from Children's Hospices UK.

This artwork is on canvas and measures 580mm wide, by 840mm high, by 40mm deep.