HOPE House Children's Hospices has launched a special appeal allowing families to dedicate daisies in memory of their loved ones.

Dan Crute and Becky Davies have been fundraising for the charity since their 17-month-old son Archie died in March, and have been one of the first to receive the hospice’s new special daisies. 

Becky said: “We are delighted to be able to dedicate a daisy for Archie, we will have one daisy at home and know that the other will be on display at Hope House, a place so dear to our hearts.”

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The stainless steel daisies, created by Red Dragon Metal Art, will be available for purchase in July, with a suggested donation of £15.

Each dedicated daisy will feature a special message and remain on display at the hospices throughout August.

Archie Crute was diagnosed with Menkes disease, a rare condition affecting approximately one in every 300,000 babies.

Border Counties Advertizer: Baby ArchieBaby Archie (Image: Hope House)

Dan said: “When he was born it was the most amazing thing and we had been waiting for that moment for so long.

“Everything was normal for a few months after we bought him home, but after about six months we noticed Archie wasn’t really gaining weight and we started to notice he was a bit slow in his development – like struggling to support his head and being a bit floppy.

“At that point, we knew there was something not quite right.” 

After spending a few weeks in hospital after his diagnosis, Archie and his family were introduced to Hope House. 

The hospice provided guidance and care for Archie, allowing his family to stay with him and ensuring his medical needs were met round the clock.

“It was just like bringing a newborn home again,” added Dan. “Very quickly we had to learn everything all over again. We needed to learn how to specially feed Archie, give him all of his medicine accurately and just generally care for our little boy.

"We were guided through all this by the amazing staff at Hope House.”

The sensory room and hydrotherapy pool were particularly cherished by Archie.

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These spaces provided relaxation and stimulation, allowing him to experience moments of comfort and love.

When Archie required end-of-life care, Hope House offered the Snowflake Suite, a serene setting where families could spend precious time with their children and bid their farewells.

Dan and Becky expressed immense gratitude for the extra time and support provided by Hope House during this heartbreaking period.

To support the vital work of Hope House Children's Hospices and dedicate a daisy in memory of a loved one or to mark a special occasion, individuals can visit the website www.hopehouse.org.uk/daisy or call 01691 671671.