I write here about my friend and colleague, Emily's story. Despite experiencing an unthinkable tragedy, Emily and her husband have shown unbelievable courage, and determination to channel their grief into positive actions. Here is their story.

Her son Jimmy was just five-and-a-half-weeks old when he became unexpectedly and desperately unwell. Tests showed the most likely cause was sepsis (an overwhelming infection) and a complicating blood clot to his bowel. 

Despite the heroic efforts of hospital staff, the Children's Acute Transfer Service (CATS) ambulance team and ultimately Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Intensive Care Unit - including emergency gastrointestinal surgery - Jimmy could not be saved. 

 He died in their arms just 2 days later, much loved and sorely missed. 

Three weeks after Jimmy died, and just two days after Jimmy was buried, his twin sister Izzy suddenly became unwell from an unrelated condition (a diaphragmatic hernia). Within 24 hours, Izzy was undergoing life-or-death gastrointestinal surgery at GOSH, which fortunately was successful.

To help repay some of the incalculable debt, they set up the Little Jimmy Brighter Future Fund in honour and memory of our Jimmy Shaw...