Rotherham: Brave couple raising funds for hospice in memory of their baby son

Kyan and Melissa Batty sadly lost their new born son, Owyn, when he was just 16 days old,

Owyn suffered from Meconium aspiration syndrome, which means he inhaled fluid and faeces during birth which blocked his airway.

Owyn’s parents were told that most babies with this condition would only survive a few days, but little Owyn fought for 16 days before sadly passing away at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Kyan and Melissa had to make the heart-breaking decision to bring their baby son to Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, where they spent 10 days with Owyn in the End of Life Suite, specially created for bereaved families.

Kyan said “We had a bedroom, kitchen and living room just for us.”

“Those 10 days were so precious because we got to be a family.”

“We have some fantastic memories of those 10 days. It didn’t cost us anything – they fed us and gave us counselling all for nothing.”

Since Owyn passed away in December 2013, Kyan, Melissa and their family and friends have already raised £6,500 with plans to raise £10,000 throughout the year.

This amount has already paid for a piece of equipment to test children’s heart rates and blood pressure, and a number of other items which will be used to carry out vital work at the hospice.

Kyan and a group of family and friends ran the London Marathon and Sheffield Half Marathon recently to support Bluebell Wood.

They are also training to do the Tough Mudder, Sherwood Pines 10K and the Bournemouth Half Marathon later on in the year to raise even more money for the hospice.

Kyan said, “It’s a difficult target, so I need to do some tough challenges.”

“We are so very proud of what our little man achieved in such a short time and we will honour his life forever.”

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice offers care and support to children and young people with a shortened life expectancy, both in their own homes and at a hospice in North Anston.

There are only 43 children’s hospices in the country so Bluebell Wood care for over 170 children from across South Yorks, North Derbyshire, North Nottis and parts of North Lincolnshire.

It costs over £3 million a year to provide this vital service to families in the region, and Bluebell Wood receive less than 5 percent statutory funding.

Their highly specialist care team look after children with a vast range of complex medical needs and support the whole family on their life journey offering respite care, day care provision, community support, crisis intervention and end of life treatment and care.

To make a donation in memory of Owyn, and to support Kyan and Mellissa’s incredible fundraising, please visit Owyn’s appeal at www.owyn.batty.muchloved.com.

If you would like to Join Kyan, Melissa and their family and friends in raising money for Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, you can find out about fundraising at www.bluebellwood.org.