Christmas is a particularly poignant time for Tracy, whose son Bradley sent her the gift of a sister he would never know just after he died nearly 12 years ago
Bradley Pover contracted meningitis in October 2007 aged just nine-and-a-half months old, sadly passing away the day after he first fell ill. His parents were understandably heartbroken.
“Our world fell apart, our boy was gone,” said Tracy, who lives in Bolton. “We felt lost and heartbroken."
“We asked him for a gift for Christmas – and I found out I was expecting on 11 January 2008. We had a beautiful daughter who was a gift sent from him. We named her Alicia Braden.”
When Bradley developed a cold on 14 October 2007, his parents took him to the Royal Bolton Hospital. Doctors gave him Calpol and discharged him but later that night Tracy found a rash all over his skin as she changed his nappy. Tracy and her husband Steven Pover dialled 999 and Bradley was taken to the Royal Bolton hospital, later to be transferred to the Royal Manchester’s Children’s Hospital and diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. He died on 15 October 2007.
“We will always remember our beautiful angel Bradley Peter Pover,” Tracy said. “He will be forever in our hearts."
Cheryl Brown, Meningitis Now’s Support Services Manager, said Christmas could be a particularly poignant and difficult time for anyone who had lost a loved one.
“This is often a time for families to come together and celebrate their continuing bonds, so it is always hard when there is someone special missing,” she said.
“People should look after themselves and don’t ever worry about asking for extra help at this time of the year. We at Meningitis Now are here for you right through the season so please do get in touch if you need our support."
