Supporting LauraLynn Foundation
The Laura Lynn Foundation.
Our youngest daughter Laura was born with a hole in her heart, and having endured and survived six months and two serious operations in Our Lady’s Hospital, went on to have a few relatively good years, with the final surgery to come. Sadly when it did, Laura did not survive and died on 31st August 1999, aged 4. Lynn, on the other hand, had 13 years of perfect health until she was diagnosed with Leukemia, the day before her younger sister passed away. Lynn died a year and eight months later, having lost her difficult but courageous battle with her illness.
Eight and six years on, and we never thought we’d have survived, but we have – so far. I can only speak from my own perspective, and say that the awful raw pain and emptiness does ease with time, but we miss our angels every minute of every day, and always will. There are two choices though – you survive or you don’t, and if you do, you learn to live a different life because you must.
Through our sadness and loss has come some good. Having spent many years in Our Lady’s Hospital, we saw a need for respite for seriously and terminally ill children, and especially for their parents and siblings, in particular where 24 hour care is required. Also at the end, Lynn’s greatest wish was to be able to die at home, and as that may not have been possible for one reason or other, I remember thinking after her death, there was no other choice here for someone of her age. Thankfully in our case, Lynn got her wish and had a lovely peaceful passing at home. But it highlighted the need for choice. So, the Laura Lynn Foundation was set up, and through the kindness and generosity of so many, it continues to go from strength to strength.
We have merged with the Children’s Sunshine Home, who at present provides a wonderful service, with limited resources. LauraLynn House and the new Hospice Project there will provide not only Respite and Palliative Care for the sick child, but as stated before, the respite and support and choice for parents and siblings. Having visited Children’s Hospice in England, Scotland and Belfast, it brought home the importance of providing the same wonderful service here in Southern Ireland.
On behalf of LauraLynn, I would like to thank all in the Freemasons’ Society of Ireland for choosing us as one of their charities of this year. The funds raised will make a great difference to the overall Project, and help bring us closer to our goal.
Jane McKenna. Mother.