Meet Orla

Orla was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour in September 2022. Over six months, she underwent intense treatment. In April 2023, she rang the end-of-treatment bell.

Watch our film about Orla and her family. 

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Orla’s story: A family’s final days surrounded by love at Haven House

In late August, Naomi and Adam made one of the hardest decisions a parent can face. They reached out to Haven House Children's Hospice and asked if their youngest daughter, Orla, could come into our care. The answer was an immediate and unwavering “yes.” By the very next day, Orla and her family were with us.

Orla was the youngest of three sisters - a bright, brave, and beautiful little girl. In September 2022, just after her first birthday, she was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour. The months that followed were filled with intensive treatment: surgeries, chemotherapy, countless blood transfusions, and long hospital stays. In April 2023, her family celebrated what they believed was the end of their journey, as Orla rang the hospital bell to mark the end of treatment and came home

Tragically, the cancer returned within months. Despite everything she endured - from mucositis so severe she couldn't hold her dummy, to a terrifying episode of sepsis that caused her heart to stop - Orla always found her way back to joy. Her smile never faded. Even on her toughest days, the moment she felt well enough, she would jump out of bed to play, bossing around nurses or giggling through games of peekaboo.

But her condition steadily worsened, and eventually, her medical team shared the heartbreaking news that palliative care was now the only option. Orla’s family had hoped to keep her at home, but her care needs became too complex. That’s when they made the journey to Haven House. Those final days became the most meaningful the family could have hoped for - made possible by the calm, compassionate care of the Haven House team.

We focused on relieving the pressure of being carers so that Naomi and Adam could simply be mummy and daddy again. Orla’s sisters, Ava and Poppy, were embraced by our team and involved in summer activities such as yoga, music, and arts and crafts - including creating a special Memory Box in honour of their sister.

The family spent five precious days with Orla at the hospice. They never left her side. One afternoon stands out most vividly in their memories. On the second day, under a clear, warm sky, our nurses suggested taking Orla outside in a supportive p-pod chair. Together, they sat in the garden, soaking in the sunshine, listening to birdsong, and watching Ava and Poppy play. Orla could no longer see, but she could still hear the voices she loved most. It was, they say, a magical day.

On the fifth day, Orla passed away peacefully, hand in hand with her parents. Losing her is a pain her family will carry forever. Yet they are certain: she was in the right place.

The care Orla and her family received at Haven House was funded almost entirely by community donations. It is thanks to you, our supporters, that we can provide compassionate, specialist care families like Orla’s need.

Naomi and Adam are now sharing Orla’s story and fundraising for Haven House – hoping to help another child feel the sun on their face one last time.

Please consider donating today.

Your support makes it possible for families facing the unimaginable to find peace, comfort, and moments of love – just as Orla’s family did.

“The staff supported us as a family and made sure we had everything we needed. We cannot express how deeply grateful we are to Haven House for the care and compassion they showed us. The people that work there are truly special people.”