Liverpool mum pays emotional tribute to Claire House nurses on International Nurses Day

A Liverpool mum has paid tribute to the nurses at Claire House Children’s Hospice for the care and compassion they’ve shown her family—both in heartbreak and in hope.

Zoey Horrocks, from West Derby, is marking International Nurses Day by celebrating the incredible support she’s received from Claire House—first with her son Liam, who sadly passed away aged seven, and now with her two-year-old daughter Harlow.

She said:

“Harlow was born prematurely at 31 weeks. At the time, they thought she was okay.

“We then found out she had congenital heart defects and had hypoplastic right lung. She also wasn’t tolerating her feeds. And even after she started being fed through an IV, she wasn’t thriving or developing.”

Harlow has faced a series of serious medical challenges since birth and has spent much of her life in and out of hospital. Doctors warned Zoey to prepare for the worst—while holding onto hope for the best.

“We were told by one of the respiratory doctors that there was not much more they could do for Harlow from a breathing perspective and that we should think about planning for the worst while hoping for the best.”

It was a familiar and frightening path for Zoey. Just a few years earlier, she’d walked a similar journey with her son Liam. Claire House was by her side then—and has never left.

“Claire House supported us throughout Liam’s condition and especially while he was in hospital,” explains Zoey.

“Even when he wasn’t well enough to come home, they enabled us to leave the ward and come to its West Derby site for his birthday. It was truly special.

“But I will never be able to thank them enough for the support they gave once Liam passed away. The team supported me through the whole funeral process.

“They did loads of memory making with us, getting Liam’s handprints and making necklaces. And even after the funeral, they have stayed in touch and remembered every key date.”

Laura Sephton, a nurse from the Claire House Rapid Response team, has become a pillar of support for Zoey.

“Laura got me through some of my darkest days,” shares Zoey.

“She was always there for me, whether I needed to rant or just have someone to listen to me.”

“Thanks to Claire House, we’ve had time at home. When Harlow is at the hospice, they take care of all her medical needs so I can just be a mum. That’s a gift you can’t put a price on.”

Zoey’s son Liam spent more than a year in hospital.

“It was hard that sometimes Liam did not want to go home as he thought hospital was home. I did not want that for Harlow.

“Being in hospital is really tough for me because it brings back such bad memories.”

Harlow has also taken part in the Claire House Baby Group at both the Liverpool and Wirral sites, a space where children with complex needs—and their parents—can play, laugh, and connect.

“I couldn’t take Harlow to mainstream baby groups, but Claire House gave us somewhere safe and welcoming. Harlow loved it—she’d cause mischief and keep the staff busy!”

Now receiving regular respite care, Harlow continues to light up the hospice with her energy. “She’s a whirlwind—dragging her cables behind her as she crawls around causing chaos!”

For Zoey, Claire House has not only been a lifeline but a source of cherished memories.

“After losing Liam and finding out how unwell Harlow was, I felt like my world was falling apart. But Claire House helped me feel less alone. They gave me space to breathe—and gave Harlow a chance to thrive.”

Find out more about Claire House Children’s Hospice here.

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