A bereaved mum from Ipswich has told how she looks back with smiles and fondness when thinking about the care she and her family received from a hospice following hers son's death.
James Rawlings was born in 2016, and was dependant on a life-support machine just after his birth.
His parents, Jo and Jon, were able to take James home when he started to breathe independently but he passed away when he was just 18-days-old.
While James was alive, the family received help, support and care from East Anglia's Children's Hospice's (EACH) The Treehouse in Ipswich.
Jo said: "We didn't have a clue what to expect, having never been in a children's hospice before.
"James had his own nursery with his own cot and there were nursery rhymes playing.
"He just looked so calm and comfortable and it was unbelievable, such a relaxed and very different environment."
She said that, despite experience a "rollercoaster" of emotions, EACH made sure that they made an "amazing memory book".
She continued: "We felt like a normal family.
"EACH gave us that opportunity and it’s something we never, ever thought we’d get.
"Otherwise we wouldn’t have created such precious memories and I’ll forever be grateful."
Since James' death, the family have been back to The Treehouse, and Jo has decided to sign up for a 20 metre treetop bungee jump.
She said: "I'll do anything I can to support EACH.
"Even now when I walk into The Treehouse, I feel close to James.
"I have so many memories and they’re all positive ones, which is lovely because it could have been very different if it wasn’t for EACH.
"It was somewhere he was comfortable and peaceful and I’m forever grateful we were given the opportunity to be a family.
"I have so much to be thankful for."
To donate to support Jo, click here.
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