‘Losing Jayden has left such a void... now we want to give thanks for his life’

Born in 2014, the Kirkton youngster was in and out of hospital during his short life and sadly passed away in August — three days before his second birthday.

Jayden’s mum Jennifer, 31, said her son was now at peace after suffering from a number of health issues, including biliary atresia.

The liver disease which affects newborns occurs when there is a blockage of the tubes which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder.

Jennifer is still waiting for the results of a post mortem to establish the cause of Jayden’s death.

Speaking today she said she was “determined” to do something to preserve his memory.

Jennifer, a former Dundee College student, has organised a sponsored walk with family and friends.

The event will see the group walk from the Tay Road Bridge along the Waterfront to the Tay Bridge and back, some of them wearing onesies.

Jennifer hopes it will raise £1,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Camberwell in London where she stayed while Jayden was in King’s College Hospital.

She said: “Losing Jayden has left such a void.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet but I know we want to say thank you to all those who helped him.”

Jennifer said Jayden was “always smiling” — despite having regular surgery and spending a lot of his life in the children’s high dependency unit at Ninewells Hospital.

She said: “It hadn’t been an easy pregnancy but I’d no idea about the extent of the problems Jayden would face.

“He was moved to the special care baby unit where tests were done.

“I was told he had extra fluid on his brain. He had problems with his heart and a cyst near his bowel.

“The doctor said that would go away but at nine days old it caused a blockage in his bowel.

“Jayden was transferred to the Sick Children’s Hospital in Edinburgh for an operation to remove the blockage.

“He had a temporary ileostomy performed where the small bowel is diverted through an opening in the tummy. He spent four weeks in Edinburgh. The doctors became concerned about his jaundice and they got in touch with King’s College Hospital.”

It was when Jayden was diagnosed with biliary atresia in October 2014 that Jennifer said she felt “scared” by his growing list of health issues.

She said: “I had never heard of liver

JAYDEN Gellatly was a “cheeky wee chappy” right until the end.

disease in children. We would never have thought about something like that affecting him.

“People ask me how we coped with all the difficulties Jayden faced. The reality was we just got on with it — we didn’t look at him like he had all those conditions. Even when he was on breathing apparatus he was smiling.

“It has been difficult for his brothers and sister — Dylan, Jessica and Daniel. They all just wanted him to be home for good.

“They would get upset when he was admitted into hospital but they are excited to be going on the walk in Jayden’s memory and going out in their onesies.”

Despite all the time Jayden spent in hospital, the brave youngster passed away at home which “shocked” the family.

Jennifer said: “Jayden was on medication every two hours. He had been allowed out of hospital on August 14 and he passed away at home less than a week later.

“The work done by the staff in ward 29 at Ninewells Hospital was incredible. I can’t thank them enough.

“The walk is just the start of what we are hoping to do to thank those who helped Jayden and I want the money raised to help other families.”

To donate to the fundraiser, visit justgiving.com and search for Jennifer Gellatly.