On Monday, to mark Jasper’s 4th birthday we set about a new project. Money donated to Warwick Hospital’s maternity unit by Jasper’s Rainbow has been used to commission “The Rainbow Tree”. This stunning, steel tree resides in the hospital’s “Quiet Garden”. Hung on its branches will be beautiful glass leaves in shades of almost every colour. Families who have experienced baby loss at the hospital will be invited to purchase a leaf to represent and commemorate their baby.
On Monday, some of Team Jasper set about sprucing up the quiet garden ahead of launching the tree later this summer, when the first of the leaves will be hung. As we have discovered on many occasions since Jasper’s birth and death, people are amazing! With a lot of hard work, determination, cheeky requests and true love, the garden was transformed!
Such a lot of people we must thank…
Paula George – for offering her green fingered talents, her gift of the gab and her husband’s money! The garden wouldn’t be anywhere near as beautiful as it is without you. You worked so hard in the lead up to and on the day, all whilst dealing with a poorly pre-schooler and a teething, breastfeeding 6 month old… flippin superwoman!
Alistair George of George and Company (georgeandcompany.co.uk) for donating £200 towards the garden. Also, for your help on the day, specifically your skills of delegation with lighting and your abilities to paint trellis with just a regular paint brush!
Tom of Tom Wolstenholme Garden Design (tomwolstenholme.co.uk) for so generously donating and fitting the water feature (he’s practically family… couldn’t say no!)
Christian Shaw of KS Gardens (ksgardens.co.uk) for donating planters and plants so kindly.
Frances Tyler (hospital chaplain) for all her ongoing support with The Rainbow Tree project.
The Hospital’s Maintenance team for making repairs and changes to the garden so promptly and agreeing to install an outside tap.
Neelam Rajput for the divine samosas that fed the workers!
Carrie Daniels for being THE best manager in sorting a few things for us and even picking up a paintbrush in the only 2 minute break she had from work yesterday.
Tessy Hawkesford and her friends Freddie Finn, Harry Finn, Florence Dwight and George Dwight for their gorgeous hand painted stones.
And of course, Jasper’s Team of gardeners for the day, from young to slightly less young, whether you gave a minute of your time or a day, whether you brought cake or a cuppa, looked after children or got down and dirty with us, you were all awesome (and those of you who feel like you went on a 100 mile bike ride yesterday like we do, you were just than teeny extra bit awesome)! So in alphabetical order… Simone Allen-Bennett, Aunty Becky (Rebecca Dwight), Aunty Becky Mc (Rebecca McNeil), Aunty Jo (Joanna Finn), Aunty Kate (Kate Hawkesford), Aunty Mel (Melanie Jones), Claire Davies, Harry Finn, Alistair George, Harriet George, Millicent George, Paula George (well I can’t leave Albert out now can I?) Joanne Gorman, Grandad (Phillip Cox), Granny (Monica Cox), Myles Hawkesford (his repeated dipping of a paintbrush in his snack pot was most helpful), Tessy Hawkesford, Yvonne Hood, George Melnitschuk, Eilish Mullins, Sandra Murphy, Nanna (Annette Hawkesford), Sonia Narwal, Sue Pryce, Tracy Stanbridge-Boyle and Clare Stuart.
Our teamwork did Jasper proud; so much so that he decided he had to make an appearance right at the end of the day! Of course he did, special boy! So, nothing expresses our gratitude better than that, Jasper took care of it.
Looking forward to launching the tree now and as sad as it will be to see more and more leaves hung over the coming weeks, months and years, we hope it can be a source of comfort for the families involved and recognition of special lives, however fleeting.
Jaspers Rainbow 