Lottie's Story

In 2021, Kirsty and Fran welcomed their second daughter, Lottie, into the world. After a healthy pregnancy and birth, they had every reason to believe their baby girl would grow up just like her older sister, Lilly. But as the months went on, Kirsty began to notice differences in Lottie's development.

A Life-Changing Diagnosis

The early stages of Lottie’s life were filled with uncertainty. As the COVID-19 lockdown made accessing healthcare more difficult, Kirsty faced months of tests and hospital visits alone. Eventually, the answers came: Lottie had a missing chromosome, brain damage resulting in level five cerebral palsy, and no corpus callosum – the part of the brain that allows the two hemispheres to communicate.

At just two and a half years old, Lottie’s development remains similar to that of a six-month-old. She cannot sit, crawl, stand, walk, or use her arms independently, and her head tires easily. She also has no way of communicating her needs.

“We have to do absolutely everything for her,” Kirsty explains. “She’s like a six-month-old forever.”

The Strain of Everyday Life

Daily tasks that many take for granted have become exhausting challenges. From going to the supermarket to settling Lottie at bedtime, life has changed dramatically for Kirsty.

“Bedtime on my own, due to Fran’s shifts, is so hard,” Kirsty says. “It can take up to two hours to settle Lottie as she is in pain in bed due to her dystonia. There's just no right way to do it whatsoever.”

Respite care has become a vital lifeline for Kirsty and Fran, offering some relief during Fran’s night shifts. And that support has come from a place they never expected – a baby hospice.

Finding Hope at Zoe’s Place

In September 2023, Lottie began visiting Liverpool Zoe’s Place, a specialist baby hospice offering expert care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. From the moment they arrived, Kirsty says it felt like home.

“As soon as you walk in, everyone's really friendly and welcoming. And it's so nice that everyone knows her… and everyone actually cares.”

Zoe’s Place offers more than just respite. It provides holistic therapies, counselling, and special days for siblings and families – helping everyone feel seen and supported.

Support for the Whole Family

Kirsty has found strength and relief through counselling sessions at Zoe’s Place. “The sessions have been invaluable. It’s been amazing because there’s no one else to turn to really.”

She also receives physical therapy support, including back massages to ease the strain of holding Lottie all day. And for Lottie, hydrotherapy has become a favourite.

“She’s in pain a lot with her muscles, but the heat of the pool helps her relax… Everyone’s amazing,” Kirsty shares. “She has the best smile, even with all the pain and frustration she must be feeling.”

A Special Place for Lilly, Too

Zoe’s Place isn’t just for Lottie – it’s a place where big sister Lilly can also feel supported and understood. Through sibling days, Lilly meets other children in similar situations, giving her a break from her caregiving role and showing her she’s not alone.

“She is like a little carer, really. She helps us an awful lot and is really understanding. So I like her knowing that it’s not just her.”

And when Lottie is at Zoe’s Place, Kirsty is able to spend quality time with Lilly, doing things that aren’t otherwise possible – like going swimming together.

The Power of Your Support

Zoe’s Place has become a lifeline for Lottie’s family – somewhere they feel truly cared for and not alone. But places like this can only continue their work thanks to the support of kind-hearted people like you.

When you play Your Hospice Lottery, you help fund vital care for families just like Lottie’s. You help provide specialist staff, therapies, counselling, and moments of joy during the most challenging times.

As Kirsty says, “We don’t get support anywhere else – that’s why Zoe’s Place is now even more valuable, because there truly is no one else.”