Hollie O'Brien
(1997 - 2002)

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General Details

Name:	Miss Hollie O'Brien
Gender:	Female
Age:	4 years old
Lived:	Saturday, 20 December 1997 - Sunday, 11 August 2002

My Story

Hollie was a healthy happy little girl for the first 4 years of her life, only suffering from the odd sniffle. It all started with a bad bout of Chickenpox in the March of 2002 and it took a good 3 weeks for her to be well enough to go back to school. Several weeks later we went swimming with some friends, Hollie was fine when we went in the pool but 30 minutes after getting changed she was so cold and dithering on the journey home. Following that she suffered high temperatures and mouth sores but no alarm bells were ringing at that point. One evening after getting her out the bath I noticed a lot of bruises and not in the usual places shins etc. Then on 15th July after her being ill for 3 days I took her to the Doctors again and requested that they do blood tests, I had an idea about Leukaemia but hoped it was something less serious. We were sent away with medicine for tonsilitus (lymph glands were swollen). 3 hours later I received a call from the Drs to ask me to take Hollie to hospital quickly. I rushed around, packing a bag and forgetting to do it up picked it up and everything fell out on the floor it was at that point I started to fall apart. A friend came, Hollies dad made his way from work to the hospital and family made the journey to support us.

Within a couple of hours we were transferred from Worcester Hospital to Birmingham Childrens Hospital where Hollie was to stay for the next 8 days. Hollie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) and we were told there was 80% cure rate. Hollie never quite bounced back like the other kids on the ward. We came home for 3 days and then she developed an infection and spiked a temperature in the lumbar puncture site on her hip. We were admitted again and things started to go wrong, She wasnt able to go to the toilet, she had septicaemia, her abdomen became distended and we were taken upto BCH again. Hollie never came home again.

Over the next 5 days Hollies condition worsened and she was undergoing a battery of tests. She was transferred from Ward 15 to the Renal Ward where she went onto dialysis. We spent a stint in Intensive Care where she underwent a plasma exchange. We were told that over the next 5 days we should see a big difference. Oh boy, we certainly did. Hollie passed away on the 5th day. She had developed a condition known as Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) and Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). It was a bad reaction to the chemotherapy. Then Hollie Suffered 2 brain haemorraghes. After the first one she underwent surgery to remove the clot and 2 days later had a more severe bleed, one which left her paralysed. We were then told the one thing we didnt want to hear. It was time to turn off the life support machine.

That was the worse thing I have ever had to do, letting doctors treat her, inject her was very hard but this was to be the hardest decision of my life. No other decision I have ever made or will ever make will come close.

Hollie passed away at apx 2.15am on Sunday 11th August in Intensive Care at BCH surrounded by her mum & dad, nan, grandad, step-grandparents, sisters, aunt & uncle. She had so many wonderful nurses caring for her, Sarah, Sara, Charlottle and Mohammed. They were brilliant with her I just wish she could have woken up and they could of got to know a little bit of the girl we loved so dearly. It had been 3 weeks & 6 days since her diagnosis.

Hollie was buried on a wonderfully sunny day at St Marys Church, Highley surrounded by family and friends that loved her dearly.

Hollie is little sister to Nikki, Lisa & Tracy. Auntie to Chloe & Liam after her passing came Megan Hollie and more recently Katie. She is Cousin to Sian, Bethany & Megan who she met and more recently Ethan, Jamie & Sam. The younger members of the family that she did meet were unforunately too young at the time to really remember her but we talk about her often and visit her to take her flowers.

I prefer not to use the word grave but just to say that "I am going to pop to see Hollie". I also prefer to talk about her in the presence tense at times, afterall she is still a Daughter, Sister, Grandaughter, Niece, Auntie & Great-Grandaughter and death cannot change that.

Latest Tributes

11 / 11 tributes

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From: edc
Song Name: Sunshine
Artist: Gabrielle

Sunshine through my window That's what you are My shining star Love you ...

From: edc

From: AuntyMel

From: hannasmom1202

I am so very sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter Hollie.

From: braysmom

I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter, Hollie. She is a beatiful girl. You and your family are in my prayers.

From: bhatfield

R.I.P little one

From: FranHutton

Sending love and kisses sweetie xxxx

From: FranHutton

From: gannywendy
Song Name: Hollie's Song
Artist: Sung by Francesca...

This was written as a tribute to Hollie's memory in the form of a poem, by Al...

From: gannywendy
Song Name: Hollie' Song
Artist: Francesca Charlton

This Song was written in memory of Hollie. The Lyrics were wrote by Alan West...

From: sapphire1

From: Debs
Song Name: Together Again
Artist: Janet Jackson

Everywhere I go, Every smile I see, I know you are there Smilin back at me, D...

Biography

Fathers Name:	Vincent O'Brien
Mothers Name:	Deborah Westwood
Country of Birth:	United Kingdom
Country of Residence:	United Kingdom
City of Residence:	Worcester

Interests

Favourite Movie:	Shrek
Favourite Music Genre:	Pop
Favourite Artist:	Atomic Kitten

Passing

Place of Passing:	Birmingham Childrens Hospital
Date of Passing:	11 August 2002
Cause of Passing:	Leukaemia & Brain Hemorrhages
Type of Funeral:	Burial
Place of Burial:	Highley, Shropshire
Funeral Director:	Perry & Phillips, Bridgnorth
Funeral Location:	St Marys Church, Highley
Funeral Date:	21 August 2002