A family got to share "the most precious moments" with a little boy who died years after being born weighing just one pound.
Jacob Morris was nicknamed "the miracle baby" in the ECHO after he was born three months premature. At the time doctors told mum Chelsea Murphy and dad Jack Morris that Jacob had 0% chance of surviving.
But Jacob, described as "determined and loving", got stronger and stronger and started nursery after overcoming the odds. Sadly Jacob passed away in January 2020 from adenovirus – a battle his premature lungs couldn't win.
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Chelsea, 28, from St Helens, said: "Jacob was such a happy bright little boy who never let anything get in his way. His smile lit up every room he entered – he was well known for his perfect smile."
Today, Sunday, May 21 would have been Jacob's sixth birthday. And to remember their little boy, his family walked from St Helens to Alder Hey Children's Hospital to raise money for its bereavement centre.
Jacob's nan Angela Murphy, 49, also from St Helens, told the ECHO: "We always come together as a family on his birthday and do something to remember him, but Chelsea had the idea of doing something a bit different.
"We didn't want to draw too much attention to it – this walk was for us and Alder Hey's bereavement centre. It was nice to do it as a family – I'm really proud of how we all came together, despite the tragic circumstances. It was lovely to share our most precious memories of him."
Jacob was called "a fighter" by his mum when she spoke to the ECHO in December 2019. For four months after his birth he stayed in Liverpool Women's Hospital, with his parents travelling two hours a day to be with him. But after another two weeks at Whiston, the pair could finally bring Jacob home.
Doctors told the family he was likely to become ill again, but the toddler kept growing and learnt to walk and was picking up more words at nursery.
Angela said the family were devastated when he died – and the last years have been hard for them all, particularly mum Chelsea. Angela said: "It's been really difficult for her but she's kept going. She's had a daughter Heidi who is Jacob's younger sister. Chelsea is a fantastic mum."
One of the main pillars of support for their family was Alder Hey's bereavement centre. Writing on a fundraising page, Chelsea said: "They cared so much, not only for Jacob but for us as a family.
"They looked after us all with so much care and love – and Jacob always looked comfy and we were given the time we needed and wanted with him."
And Angela wanted to draw attention to the work of one person in particular, called Anna, who "helped give Chelsea the most precious moments". Angela said: "I can't thank her enough.
"All the staff were amazing and helped give Chelsea and Jack the most precious time together, but she was wonderful. She really was one in a million."
To donate to the family's JustGiving page click here.
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