Remembering George: Charity gifts comfort, joy and calm in memory of two-year-old

Our charity team recently met with the family and friends from Benfleet-based charity George’s Windmills to accept a generous delivery of three sensory bubble trolleys following their donation of £14,490.

Their donation, which benefits the children’s wards at Basildon, Broomfield and Southend hospitals continues a longstanding relationship with the George’s Windmills family, a charity which was established following the tragic death of founders Hayley and Anthony’s two-year-old son George.

George was born in July 2017 with Biliary atresia, a rare illness that affects babies. This condition means that a baby’s bile ducts are blocked, damaged, or missing making it difficult to move bile from the liver to the gut. As a result of this condition, George underwent a liver transplant in the January of 2019. Feeling thankful for George’s treasured gift of life from his organ donation, the family spent what they described as ‘six wonderful months’ at home feeling secure that George was now in much better health.

Sadly, George’s health started to deteriorate and in December 2019 his parents received the devastating news that George had been diagnosed with Post‑Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder, a rare and aggressive cancer which can follow a liver transplant. George, just two years old, died two weeks later in the arms of his parents.

Despite such sadness, George’s memory now lives on through George’s Windmills, a charity dedicated to bringing joy, comfort and smiles to poorly children and their families across Essex.

Each donated sensory trolley is designed to provide a calming, engaging experience through lights, bubbles and interactive sensory resources, helping children to feel more relaxed, soothed and distracted during uncomfortable moments in hospital.

During a special visit as part of the donation of sensory trolleys, George’s mum, Hayley and George’s Windmills trustee, Rebecca were welcomed by our charity team and members of Basildon’s children’s ward who remembered George and his family fondly. George’s dad, Anthony and older brother Thomas visited the teams at Southend, whilst his grandparents Allan and Linda met with the Broomfield team.

Lisa Kawa-Akenbo, Lead Health Play Specialist for mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, added: “George was a truly lovely child, and it’s a privilege to see his legacy live on in this way. Across all our hospitals, we are so thankful for the donation of these three sensory stations. The lights, bubbles and sensory experiences they provide can be a powerful way to calm, distract and reassure children during their hospital stay.”