Jewish couple raise £20,000 for hospice in memory of son
Steven and Rachel Brodie are supporting a hospice that cared for their son who died after being born with a brain tumour
A Jewish couple in North London have helped raise more than £20,000 a children’s hospice in memory of their baby son, who was born with an incurable brain tumour.
Steven Brodie from Totteridge raised the money for Haven House, together with his wife Rachel, after he pledged to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon in Hyde Park on 9 October.
He will be running in memory of his son, Isaac, who was born in February, just after doctors realised he had a tumour on his brain stem.
After two weeks’ of care at University College London Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital, the family were told there was nothing else that could be done, and Isaac was transferred to Haven House, where Isaac had his ventilator removed.
“We were terrified but against all odds he fought for his life, and was able to breathe on his own for six whole days,” recalls Steven. “He was a true champion and extraordinarily brave.”
He added: “One of the most special gifts that the hospice gave us was the chance to take Isaac outside for a walk to the local coffee shop for the first time. We can’t emphasise enough how wonderful this was.”
They told Jewish News, they are members of Muswell Hill Synagogue “who were very supportive, they delivered food and offered support. Members are still in touch and rabbi Mason was there for both spiritual guidance and friendship.”
The couple added, that Camp Simcha were also very generous with there offers of support.
The hospice provided family accommodation, so the three of them could live together, ordering kosher food and all additional support, so Steven and Rachel could dedicate the time to Isaac.
“It was a privilege to support the family during this difficult time,” said care director Eileen White. “Rachel and Steven’s incredible fundraising will enable us to help other families who need our support.”
Steven added: “The most important gift of all was the confidence and ability they gave us to make sure our little soldier was comfortable and relaxed at all times during those difficult final days.
“We were able to spend Isaac’s last hours together, holding him close, singing to him, praying for him and making sure he knew he was loved more than anything as he made his ultimate journey.”
Support Rachel and Steven’s fundraising for Haven House by visiting their Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Isaac-Maxwell-Brodie
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
