Seriously ill son sees couple renew their wedding vows thanks to Claire House

When Merseyside couple Esther and John Denton renewed their wedding vows, they celebrated their special day surrounded by family and friends.

And thanks to Claire House there was one person there who made it even more memorable – their seriously ill son Ronnie.

Care team staff from the Wirral Hospice looked after two-year-old Ronnie so he could be smiling beside them on the big day.

Esther, 37, said:

“We couldn’t have done it without Ronnie being there, and we couldn’t have had Ronnie there without the help and support of Claire House. They have been amazing, and it meant the world to us.

“When me and John made our promises 12 years ago it was just us, but this was us making those promises as a team, as a family – including Ronnie and our eldest son, Eddie, who was our best man.”

She adds:

“These last two years have been very difficult, but this was a chance to renew our commitment and show we’re still strong together, and that meant so much for us all.”

Esther and painter and decorator John, 44, from Thornton, repledged their vows at The Lake House, Waterloo, in June, with 70 guests cheering them on.

Esther said:

“It was prompted by Eddie who asked if we could get married again so he could come,”

“And when John asked if I’d get married again, of course I said yes.”

It meant even more after what the pair have been through.

After a straightforward pregnancy and birth with Eddie, Esther had no reason to believe her second child would be any different.

But after a routine scan at 36 weeks showed the umbilical cord was squashed and oxygen to his brain was cut off, Ronnie was delivered immediately by emergency caesarean section.

Esther said:

“It was horrific, it was terrible, and there was a time when we thought we were going to lose him,”

Although he thankfully survived, Ronnie was diagnosed with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) caused by oxygen deprivation and cerebral palsy. An MRI scan revealed 70% of his brain had been damaged.

Esther revealed:

“Ronnie can’t sit up or roll, and he can’t walk or talk.”

“And he suffers from pain episodes sometimes lasting for five days, they think because of his brain misfiring messages to his nervous system. That’s really hard to see because you feel so helpless, and I can’t cuddle him because he is in such agony, although new medication seems to be helping.

“But on good days he can smile – on his best days he can giggle, which is amazing to see, and Ronnie just lights up any room he is in.”

Worrying about long term plans and how they will cope – and even dealing with Ronnie’s illness on a daily basis – takes its toll. And it did put a strain on Esther and John.

She said:

“It’s not easy. The hardest bit is finding it difficult individually but trying to pull together as a team at the same time. You have to be a solid unit and although it has been hard, renewing our vows was us showing we are still that.

“We couldn’t have had the ceremony without Ronnie, and I wouldn’t have struggled to care for him and make my promises. Amy and Siobhan from Claire House – Amy Goddard and Siobhan McKay – made so much effort, getting him ready in his little outfit and managing his care, making sure he was all ready for the big day.

“They made it doable and just perfect. It was just a wonderful day for us all and we were able to soak up every precious moment.”

Ronnie gets respite at Claire House every three months, but if they have any spare beds they often offer one to Ronnie because they realise how hard it is for Esther and John, and for their little boy himself.

Esther said:

“We wouldn’t have coped without Claire House, providing counselling, advice, and support for us all as well as Ronnie.

“That they helped to make our vow renewal so special, we’re beyond grateful. We’re moving forward into the future stronger than ever, and able to face whatever it might bring.”

Ronnie and Claire House staff, Amy and Siobhan

Amy, nurse associate at Claire House, which now has a full hospice in Wirral, and a site in West Derby, Liverpool, supporting support babies, children, young adults and families in the community, said:

“I’m honestly so lucky and honoured to do the job I do! Many people often assume working in a children’s hospice must be a sad place, but I get to help create such special memories and joyful moments every day for the beautiful children we support.

“It was such an honour to accompany Ronnie to the vow renewal. His mum and dad could enjoy every minute while we took care of gorgeous Ronnie, who made everyone so proud!”

Siobhan, bank clinical nurse, adds:

“Surrounded by so much joy and love, Ronnie was an absolute superstar. It reminds us of what Claire House is all about, which is being there for the seriously ill babies, children and young adults, and their families, who need us the most, in every way we can. And giving families the chance to make precious memories together.”