A couple who lost both their children to rare illnesses have become foster parents to honour one of their son’s final wishes.
Karen and Paul Ledsham, from St Helens, Lancashire, said fostering had given them a purpose again after their daughter Abigail and son Harrison died of separate rare conditions at the ages of one and 12 respectively.
The idea to foster came from Harrison, when his sister was unwell with Sandhoff disease, a disorder that attacks the nervous system.
Mrs Ledsham, 48, a nurse, told the PA news agency: “He mentioned that when she goes to heaven could we let somebody come and live with us because, obviously, he’s got nice toys he wants to share because he won’t be able to share with his sister any more, and that kind of conversation was there.
A couple who lost both their children to rare illnesses have become foster parents to honour one of their son’s final wishes.
Karen and Paul Ledsham, from St Helens, Lancashire, said fostering had given them a purpose again after their daughter Abigail and son Harrison died of separate rare conditions at the ages of one and 12 respectively.
The idea to foster came from Harrison, when his sister was unwell with Sandhoff disease, a disorder that attacks the nervous system.
Mrs Ledsham, 48, a nurse, told the PA news agency: “He mentioned that when she goes to heaven could we let somebody come and live with us because, obviously, he’s got nice toys he wants to share because he won’t be able to share with his sister any more, and that kind of conversation was there.
A COUPLE who lost both their children to illness are sharing their story ahead of the sixth anniversary of their son s death, to explain how fulfilling one of his dreams has made their house a home again. Karen and Paul Ledsham from Haydock, suffered the devastation of their son Harrison, 12, dying from bone cancer in 2015 and one-year-old Abigail from Sandhoffs Disease in 2008. Harrison and Abigail One shred of comfort came from a priceless comment made by Harrison a few months before he passed, when he said to his parents, “Mum and Dad - why don’t you foster or adopt?” a piece of thoughtful advice that a few years later Karen and Paul would make a reality.
This is the heart-warming moment a six-year-old boy rung the bell after beating leukaemia following a gruelling three and a half year battle.
Saahib Randhawa, from Ashbrooke, Sunderland, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, an aggressive form of cancer that affects white blood cells, when he was just three.
Following years of intensive treatment, Saahib was able to ring the bell after he was given the all-clear on Tuesday at the Great North Children s Hospital, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
His mum Gurpreet, 36, said the moment was a massive relief for the family.
Saahib ringing the bell with his proud mum and dad, Gurpreet and Manprit. The six-year-old managed to beat his illness while smiling the whole time
A six-year-old boy from Sunderland has rung the bell to mark the end of three and a half years of gruelling leukaemia treatment.
Saahib Randhawa, from Ashbrooke, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, an aggressive form of cancer that affects white blood cells, when he was just three.
Following years of intensive treatment, Saahib was able to ring the bell after he was given the all-clear on Tuesday at the Great North Children’s Hospital, based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
His mum Gurpreet, 36, said the moment was a “massive relief” for the family.
Saahib hugs his mother (The Randhawa family/PA)