As Louie grew, his vibrant personality shone through, characterised by kindness and an undeniable passion for food, playtime, and his family. Louie adored toys like stacking cups, sensory balls, and even the occasional dog toy. Despite a rough start in life, he consistently surpassed milestones ahead of schedule, a testament to his spirit and determination. Louie spent most of his days playing and exploring alongside his Pug, Frank, often sharing snacks and toys.

His love for food was evident as he eagerly explored new flavours and textures. Although he later developed a cow's milk protein intolerance, limiting his diet somewhat, he still relished dairy-free alternatives. One particular favourite was a free-form Easter egg with popping candy inside, much to his delight as they burst in his mouth.

After coming back from a holiday to Majorca in May 2023, Louie started to display cold and flu symptoms which later turned into breathing difficulties and frequent nose bleeds. Numerous hospital visits couldn't determine the cause of his illness., but that didn't stop Louie from living life to the fullest. His first birthday bash was a blast, with a Wild One theme that suited him perfectly. Even though he had to spend his actual birthday in the hospital, surrounded by presents and his loving parents, he didn't let it get him down. Louie was a trooper through it all, from his calm first haircut to getting his very own birthday Build-A-Bear.

No matter what life threw at him, he tackled it with a smile and a sense of adventure that inspired everyone around him.

In August 2023, Louie was admitted to the Great North Children's Hospital, where a bronchoscopy revealed unexpected damage to his airways. This discovery prompted a series of medical interventions, including manual ventilation and steroid treatments. Despite the uncertainty surrounding his condition, Louie's remarkable strength was evident to all in the hospital, and he faced each challenge with resilience. He formed meaningful bonds with the nursing staff, considering them his friends, and remained actively involved in his care, even assisting with tasks like checking his temperature.

One day, Louie found amusement in syringes, turning them into playful toys by spinning them or stacking them together. His joy sparked the idea of making Louie his own personalized syringe with his name on it. This time truly shows Louie’s ability to find joy and connection even during medical challenges.

After a challenging recovery, Louie left the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) on 6th October 2023, gradually gaining strength and enjoying playtime with toys, family, and nursing staff. He spent all of his time here making friends and filling his life with love and fun. He enjoyed spending time with the physio and doing sensory games with the occupational therapists. Not to mention the wonderful arts and crafts, like hand and footprint monsters for Halloween. Or his bumkin, where he had his little bottom painted orange and stamped onto a card to look like a Halloween jack o lantern. 

As Halloween approached, increased tiredness and elevated CO2 levels led to a third intubation. Unfortunately, on 30th October 2023, Louie passed away, surrounded by his close family. Ongoing investigations and a post-mortem seek to understand the cause of Louie's illness and provide healing for his family. 💙🌈