Imagine standing on the edge of an open doorway in an aircraft flying at 13,000 feet. As you experience the noise of the engines and the wind whipping past your face, you’ll be getting ready to take a leap you’ll never forget. Holly tells us how she coped with the loss of her daughter Jasmine and took to the skies in a touching tribute.
We first met Mum Holly when we cared for her daughter Jasmine at the hospice back in 2015. Her daughter Jasmine was born early by emergency caesarean and at birth, doctors noticed something was wrong. Soon after they found out that Jasmine had suffered from an internal stroke. Unfortunately, it was also discovered that there was nothing that could be done for her, which is when she was referred to the hospice for end-of-life care.
Shortly after Jasmine’s diagnosis, Mum Holly and Dad Jason visited Helen & Douglas House to look around and see how the hospice felt. They told us that ‘As strange as it sounds, the hospice had a lovely feel about it. It just felt calm and we felt relaxed and felt like we could be a family whilst we were there.’
After their initial visit, Jasmine was moved to the hospice where we cared for her during her short life before she died peacefully, at just five days old, in her parent’s arms. During their stay at the hospice, we cared for the whole family including Jasmine, Mum Holly, Dad Jason and older brother Jaxon, who is now aged six.
The Helen & Douglas House doctors and care team supported the family during Jasmine’s final moments and gave them an opportunity to create special moments together including giving them the chance to hold and cuddle Jasmine and even do something simple like read her a book in her final few hours.
‘I don’t think we would have come through in the way we have and been so strong as a family if we didn’t have Helen & Douglas House. I think we would have been in a very different situation without their support.’ Holly, Jasmine’s Mum.
Since first coming to Helen & Douglas House, Holly and Jason have gone on to show their support by raising money for the hospice through various sporting activities. As a local charity, we need to raise £3.6m to care for families like Holly’s.
As her fundraising activity, Holly took part in our skydive which saw her and her friend Nicola leap from a plane at 13,000ft and reach speeds of up to 120mph before landing safely back on solid ground. Holly raised an impressive total of £1,703 for us, from a minimum target of £250. The skydive took place on Mother’s Day last March which Holly told us she felt like it was a fitting tribute to remember her daughter Jasmine by. As well as her own fundraising, Dad Jason also raised money back in 2018 when he completed an Ironman event and raised an impressive £7,500 for the hospice.
Holly told us the reason why they fundraise for us; ‘When we lost Jasmine in 2015, both my husband and I wanted to raise money in her name, so that her legacy can live on and so we can thank the people at Helen & Douglas House that helped us at this tragic time. The hospice continued to support us through bereavement counselling and general help and guidance for two years after Jasmine died and are still available to us whenever we need them. Each year they also hold regular remembrance services for those of us who have lost children’.
Be #HDHHero and use your sporting power to help raise vital funds
This unforgettable experience could be yours too! Sign-up now to skydive with us on Sunday 29th March 2020. This is a great event or a fantastic gift for thrill-seekers and adrenaline lovers providing an opportunity of a lifetime.
Have a fear of heights? This year we have over 27 other events for you to take part in for all ages and abilities. From marathons to family fun runs, treks through wonderful rural scenery, to exciting water challenges.
Joining #TeamHDH means you can set yourself a new, exciting challenge and raise money for a great local cause. We’ll be with you every step of the way. We are there to support you on your personal journey with training tips, branded kit to wear with pride and we can help you with fundraising advice and tips.