Anniversary that Robert would have loved to see (From Worcester News)

Anniversary that Robert would have loved to see

5:50am Saturday 13th March 2010 in

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Robert Davison became known as the face of Acorns. His blond hair, blue eyes and big smile lit up many of the posters publicising the campaign to raise money to build a new children’s hospice in Worcester.

Robert was supposed to be the first child to use the Bath Road hospice, which offers support to life-limited youngsters and their families, but sadly did not live to see the centre open its doors on Monday, March 14, 2005.

He lost his battle for life, aged 11, a few months earlier.

So, while tomorrow marks the fifth birthday for the hospice – a happy milestone its staff will mark by throwing a tea party for the children and families it helps – it is worth remembering that this year is also the fifth anniversary of Robert’s death.

Yet despite this personal sadness, his parents Sally and Bill and brother Peter, aged 13, have once again opened up their hearts to help publicise Acorns.

Why? Because according to Robert’s mum: “Once an Acorns family, always an Acorns family.”

The Davisons, from Worboys Road, St John’s, came into contact with Acorns at their lowest point.

They had struggled to care alone for quadriplegic Robert, who suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and were exhausted.

Mrs Davison said: “We got to 18 months and people had been badgering us for help and we said, ‘we’ll manage.’ “We went to Ronkswood hospital, they took one look at us, took Robert off us and said ‘come back tomorrow.’ “When we went back they told us ‘we’ve referred you to Acorns’ and it was the best thing they ever did for us.”

Until that point, the family had been unable to take any breaks and had to call on a specialist babysitter from social services just for a night out.

Initially, the Davisons took Robert to Acorns in Selly Oak, Birmingham, when they went on holiday but, as he grew older, he would also spend weekends there to give them a rest.

The couple said he loved the centre and would use the pool or take part in cooking activities.

Mrs Davison said: “We used to go back to get him and it was like ‘do I have to go home?’” The family were glad of the help but it was far from an ideal solution.

Mr Davison said: “The big problem for us was Robert never liked the car and when we went up the motorway he screamed all the way up and all the way down.

“It’s why we wanted to get involved in Acorns Worcester because it would have helped us.”

It wasn’t even as simple as just putting Robert, who could not walk or talk, in the car.

As he grew, so too did the amount of equipment and luggage he needed to take with him so the hospice could care for him in exactly the same way as if he was at home. The plan was even for Robert to be able to carry on going to his school, then Rose Hill in Windermere Drive, while staying at Acorns.

It wasn’t to be though. Mrs Davison said: “We were invited to have a look round Bath Road one weekend in January.

“It was almost like he had been up there, was satisfied and that was it.

“The following weekend, January 21, a Friday, he died.”

A pebble bearing Robert’s name now sits in a stream in the Worcester hospice’s memorial garden.

Five years may have passed but the Davison family still have contact with Acorns and last year joined other bereaved families in New York, a trip generously donated by a benefactor.

They say one day they may not need Acorns any more but they are not at that point just yet.

Above all they want other families to have what Robert sadly couldn’t – help close to home.

Mr Davison said: “It’s great that everybody is supporting all the charities in vogue like Help For Heroes and Haiti but the problem is the local charities are suffering because money is going out of the county.

“Please don’t forget these local charities are still here and still need support.”

2005: Following a high-profile fund-raising campaign, Acorns for the three counties, in Worcester, opened its doors in March although it did not have the funds to offer 10 bedrooms as originally planned.

2007: The £4 million hospice in Bath Road was officially opened by the Duchess of Gloucester as a 10-bedded centre offering specialist care for the life-limited children of Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire and support for their families. It includes an adolescent’s wing, a hydrotherapy pool, a multi-sensory room and a spa.

2010: As Acorns celebrates its fifth birthday, 155 children – including 71 from Worcestershire – receive care at the Worcester hospice. Forty -four bereaved Worcestershire families also get support.