A bereaved mother from Barnsley has said the support of a children's hospice inspired her to become a nurse.
Katy Miller's son Oscar died an hour after he was born in 2020. Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, based in Rotherham, allowed the family to take him home as part of the care they provided.
Miller now works on the surgical assessment ward at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. She said the care she received at the hospice had "set the foundation for the kind of nurse I want to be".
Support at home
Miller described the hospice staff as "heartwarming" and said they were waiting at home when the family returned from hospital with all equipment already set up.
"It was such a painful time, but so heartwarming and reassuring to have them on hand as soon as we arrived," Miller said. "Without that support, there's no way we could have brought him home."
The hospice provided a temperature-controlled bed, known as a cold cot, for Oscar. This allowed the family to grieve with him privately for three days. His sisters Maeva and Emmy were able to spend time with him, and the wider family could say their goodbyes.
Making a difference
Miller said the loss of Oscar had made her "more aware of the emotional impact behind clinical situations".
"It showed me what truly compassionate care looks like and sets the foundation for the kind of nurse I want to be," she said.
Reflecting on her career, Miller added: "Nursing is my baby now, and that's what I'm holding with me every single day."
Sarah Duffy, head of family support at Bluebell Wood, said: "Katy's strength, resilience and determination to retrain and give back to her community in Oscar's memory are truly inspiring. Katy should feel immensely proud of all she has achieved and her courage and commitment are making a real and meaningful difference."