Our son Elio was just 36 days old when he died, peacefully in our arms at Little Havens. Grief is awful, but love comes out on top. And Little Havens gave us the chance to fill Elio’s life with love.

Elio was born on 4th July after a straightforward pregnancy. He was perfect. Everything felt normal. We thought we were just starting our lives.

But within 36 hours, everything changed. Elio became critically unwell and was rushed into intensive care before being transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

That’s where doctors discovered he had a rare and serious heart condition that hadn’t been picked up during pregnancy.

The weeks that followed were filled with uncertainty, operations and hope that rose and fell daily. For much of that time, we couldn’t hold him because he was connected to so many wires and machines. When we were finally able to cuddle our son again, it meant everything.

Eventually, we were told nothing more could be done. Care would now focus on keeping Elio comfortable.

We were offered choices – to stay in hospital, try to take him home, or go to Little Havens.

At first, we didn’t want to go to a hospice. We wanted him at home. His bedroom was ready for him. But we also knew what was coming. When we visited Little Havens, everything changed.

You expect somewhere clinical and depressing, but it wasn’t like that at all. It was calm, peaceful… it just felt safe. Everyone spoke to us like human beings. It felt like they were living this with us, not just treating us.

In hospital everything feels urgent but at Little Havens, time slowed down. And that’s when the Care Team started saying yes. We carried Elio around the gardens, and the team arranged a photographer so we could have proper family photos, something we wouldn’t have thought to ask for but Little Havens made possible.

As the tubes and equipment were removed, it felt like we had our baby back. We were able to do things that had felt impossible in hospital.

We decorated his room with a piece of wallpaper from home and drawings from his big sister. We watched films together, lying on the bed as a family. It was a small, beautiful moment of normality.

They brought a little bath into the room so we could bathe him. We’d never been able to do that before. Then afterwards, we sat together and had lunch with him. The double doors open onto the gardens, birds singing and everything feeling calm and peaceful.

These are things you dream about doing with your baby.

It had been really hot since Elio was born and then it started to rain. So, we took him outside to feel the rain on his face. It felt so important letting him experience the world, even for a little while.

The two days we were at Little Havens were the most tragic days of our lives – but also two of the most beautiful.

If we’d stayed in hospital, we probably would have just sat by his bed waiting. But at Little Havens, they encouraged us to live, to make memories, not just wait. They helped make something horrendous bearable. We have memories that make us smile, not just memories of panic and fear.

Elio spent most of his life in hospital, but we will always associate his life with Little Havens. There’s never been a single regret about our time at Little Havens.

Of course, we wish we’d never needed to know places like this. But then you realise how lucky we were to have Little Havens here for us. Our experience could have been so different.

Little Havens gave us so much. Now we fundraise to try and give back so other families can have that same chance – the chance to hear “yes” when it matters most.

To find out more about how you or someone you know would benefit from the care at Little Havens, click here. 

If you would like to donate to Little Havens please click here. 

Published in 2025