Family stories

Summer’s story

Published on: 25/12/2023

No parents should have to experience the devastating loss of their child. Samantha and Phil share the story of their nine-year-old daughter Summer, and how they found comfort at Chestnut Tree House in her final three weeks.

Watch Summer's story

Summer was a happy and healthy nine-year-old girl. She was intelligent, funny, and had an amazing sense of empathy. She loved being the baby and the boss of the family, and everyone wanted to be her friend.

Summer started feeling unwell at the beginning of the school summer holidays saying that her head really hurt. After Samantha and Phil took Summer to the doctors she was tragically diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour. They were given the shocking news that they had anything from five days to seven months left with their precious daughter.

Summer with her family in the countryside

It was Summer’s palliative care nurse who told Samantha and Phil about Chestnut Tree House, so they decided to come for a visit. Summer thought the hospice was great. She loved the pool, the video games, the garden, and particularly, loved the attention from the staff.

After she had a seizure in the hospital, Summer’s doctors told her family to expect the worst. They didn’t want Summer to die in the hospital, so an ambulance blue-lighted Summer and her family to the hospice. As a result, they were able to spend three special weeks together where her parents no longer needed to be her carers, they could just be Summer’s Mummy and Daddy.

Even though she was sick, Summer thought so much about the other children at Chestnut Tree House and even organised a disco!

Three weeks after arriving at the House, we laid Summer to rest in our Stars bereavement suite. Here, her family could say their final goodbyes in a peaceful and dignified environment.

It’s been five years since Summer died, and her family and friends still feel the pain of her loss, especially at Christmas.

Summer holding a flower and smiling

You're not taught to be a parent. So you're definitely not taught to be a parent of a dying child.

Could you help families like Summer's?

Over £5 million is needed every year to provide hospice care for local children and their families. Very little of this comes from government funding, the rest comes from the amazing donations we receive. We couldn't do it without you.

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a photo of Summer in a white decorative frame with moulded wings