I’ll remember that beautiful smile forever
UNCLE FUNDRAISING IN TRIBUTE TO HOPE
HOPE Winter had just six precious months with her family, but the memory of her beautiful smile will stay with them forever.
Diagnosed with a serious heart defect before she was born, Hope spent her first three months fighting for her life at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital.
She was eventually able to go home with parents Michael and Lisa, but her brave battle came to an end in August last year when she failed to pull through from her next set of operations.
The loss devastated her family, but Hope’s devoted uncle Allen Winter-Moore was determined to continue her legacy.
The 39-year-old from Braystones in Cumbria, has been tirelessly fundraising for The Sick Children’s Trust, which supported his niece’s parents with free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation at Scott House whilst Hope was in the Freeman Hospital.
Hope was diagnosed with a serious heart defect – hypoplastic left heart syndrome – at Lisa’s 20-week scan, which meant the left side of her heart hadn’t developed properly.
Shortly after she was born at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, Hope was transferred to the Freeman for specialist treatment.
Allen said: “She did make it home for a couple of months but she was very poorly and we knew there was a chance she would make it.”
During her brief period at home, Hope won the hearts of everyone
Allen Winter-Moore after completing the Carlisle Resolution 10km in August in the family, including Allen’s nine-year-old daughter Ellie.
Allen said: “She was a very poorly little girl so it was hard to do things with her, but it was a really good time.
“She was beautiful, always smiling, even though she’d had so much to deal with.”
Hope returned to the Freeman with her parents for her next set of operations in August 2016.
“People usually pull through from that procedure quite well,” Allen said. “There’s a one in 10 chance that you don’t, but sadly she was that one.
“She had had quite a few heart attacks while they were operating and Michael and Lisa were told she was never going to pull through from it.
“We were at home and my brother-in-law rang to say she hadn’t made it through. It was absolutely devastating.”
Although she was only in their lives for a short time, Hope’s family are determined to keep her memory alive.
Michael and Lisa welcomed their second child, Freddie, into the world three months ago, and Allen said: “They’re always telling him about his big sister.
“We talk about her all the time and how beautiful she was.
“I’ll remember that smile forever. She always had a beautiful little smile. And she often had a chocolate digestive as well.”
Since he decided to start fundraising for the Sick Children’s Trust, Allen has completed the Manchester Half Marathon, in both October 2016 and 2017, the Chester Half Marathon in May 2017, as well as three separate 10km runs in Gateshead, Gosforth and Carlisle.
He also took on the challenging Great North Swim on Windermere in June and is back training for the Lorton Half Marathon in Cumbria in January 2018 and the London Landmark Race in March.
Andrew Leadbitter, Scott House manager, said: “We are so grateful to Allen for taking on so many tough fundraising challenges.
“I got to know his family very y well when Lisa and Michael were e staying at Scott House and it is s very touching that they have all l rallied together to raise money y in Hope’s memory for The Sick k Children’s Trust.”
To sponsor Allen, please click k here: https://www.justgiving. g. com/fundraising/Allen-WinterrMoore4
For further information about ut The Sick Children’s Trust, please se visit http://www.sickchildrennstrust.org/