Loving parents Anne and Mark Hollern have suffered the indescribable pain of losing not one but two children and will forever be grateful for the help provided by CHAS.
The Balloch couple who lost both their son Robbie, six, and daughter Rosie, eight, are thankful not only for the care provided by staff at Robin House but for the opportunity they were given to create happy memories they can cherish forever.
Robbie and Rosie both had Infantile Batten’s disease, a genetic neuro-degenerative condition.
Anne, 48, recalled: “I used to walk past Robin House when it was being built but never realised that I would one day be using it.
“Robbie was born healthy but took unwell and started taking seizures at 21 months. It was two years before he was diagnosed.
“I had seven weeks left of my pregnancy with Rosie at the time and unfortunately she was tested at three months old and they found she had it as well.
The couple who have two other children — Roxie, 10 and Ruthie, seven — recently marked the five-year anniversary of Rosie’s death, and can count 11 years since they lost Robbie.
Anne admits that the grief of losing her two children still catches her unaware at times.
“You don’t know how these things are going to affect you”, she admitted.
Despite the grief she has fond memories of the time she spent with both of them at Robin House.
Anne said: “It’s about making lots of memories. A nurse’s job isn’t just about the children’s medication or their feeds. It’s about the emotional support and the love that goes along with it, which is amazing.
“When Robbie became ill I shied away from doing normal things with him because it was upsetting but in the environment of Robin House they go out their way to do things with the kids that I would never have dreamed of.”
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