Kacper’s story: My son dreamed of wearing a suit
When Kacper died, his parents wanted to focus on saying goodbye without being forced to worry about money.
In 2017, Kacper’s parents heard the devastating news that their boy had a type of cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. “It seemed to us that it was the end of the world. But after some time there was hope, the chemotherapy was working and we saw a light in the tunnel.”
For the next three years Kacper underwent treatment. But his cancer kept coming back. Kacper’s mum Ewa remembers how his positive attitude throughout this uncertain time helped them to cope. “He endured everything very bravely, he did not complain, he would laugh and was happy. In fact, it was he who gave us strength.
“Unfortunately, after three years of fighting with the constantly recurring cancer, we heard the worst words in our lives: “I am very sorry, but unfortunately there is nothing we can do.”
“It is impossible to describe what I felt at such a moment.”
We hugged him and held his hand
Kacper struggled with the disease for three years and four months. He died on August 5, 2020, three weeks before his 13th birthday at Haven House Children’s Hospice.
“We were together, we hugged him, we held his hand, we had as much time as we needed to say goodbye to him – never enough.
“What does a mother feel when her only child dies… she is crushed, helpless, furious with the whole world.”
Saying goodbye
After Kacper died, a nurse from the hospice applied for a Butterfly Fund grant for his family. The grants are available for families mourning a child to spend however they choose. It’s a one-off cash payment of £300. There are no strings attached. Families can spend it on anything that helps – whether that’s paying towards funeral costs, a special day out for bereaved brothers or sisters, a special headstone or anything that helps families remember their child.
Kacper’s family used their Butterfly Fund grant to pay for the suit he wanted to wear at his funeral. “He dreamed of a suit with a waistcoat. I bought one for him thanks to your help. I hope he liked it.”
“Thanks to this £300, we could say goodbye to Kacper in a dignified way.”
It would be wonderful if every family could receive this support so that they could focus on mourning their child.
Ewa, Kacper's Mum
Help grieving families pay for their child’s funeral
When a family loses a child, they need time to grieve, not be worrying about money. Yet when a child dies of a life-limiting condition, many families suffer financial hardship on top of coping with their grief and loss.
Donate to the Butterfly Fund today. Your gift will give a family like Kacper’s the chance to have the funeral they want for their child without worrying about the cost.