Coll's Story

When Baby Coll was born, it was discovered he had a pinched aorta and a hole in his heart, which required him to undergo heart surgery. During his time in hospital, Crossbasket House became a lifeline for Coll’s parents.

Staying in Crossbasket House

Crossbasket House provides accommodation and support for hospital families during a critical time. Being a 5-miunte walk away from the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, means that families with children in the hospital can remain close by.

Shannon, Coll’s Mum, shares:

“We stayed at the House for around 9 days and during that time it truly became a home from home. Having somewhere warm, safe and welcoming to return to at the end of long and emotional days at the hospital made an enormous difference to us. It meant we could stay close to our baby and focus all our energy on being there for him."

“Like any parent all we wanted was to be close to our child during such a frightening and emotional time. Staying at Crossbasket House made that possible for us.”

Shannon, Coll's Mum

“Without Crossbasket House, the journey from our home to the hospital would have taken around an hour each way. Facing that journey back and forth every day while worrying about our baby would have been incredibly difficult.

“At the time, I was also recovering from a C-section, which made things physically more challenging in those early weeks. Being able to walk the short distance between the House and the hospital made such a difference. It allowed me to get back and forth without putting too much strain on my recovery, while still being there for my baby whenever I was needed.”

Support and Facilities at Crossbasket House

At Crossbasket House, families have access to amenities such as a shared kitchen space, washing machines, and ensuite bathrooms, as well as support and space for moments of respite.

Shannon shares her family’s experience,

“Having a comfortable room, access to a kitchen, and shared spaces where families could relax, created a real sense of comfort and normality during a very abnormal time.

“We were in the House over Christmas as well, which made being away from home even harder, but having that support around us made such a difference.

“One of the most valuable aspects was the sense of community. Being surrounded by other families who truly understood what we were going through made us feel less alone.

“The kindness from the staff and volunteers also meant so much, their support and warmth helped create a place where families could find small moments of comfort during very challenging days.”

Giving Back and Saying Thank You

Coll and his family are now doing well, and he recently celebrated turning 3 months old!

To give back for the care they received, Coll’s family are planning to fundraise for Crossbasket House in the future.

Shannon shares:

“After experiencing the support that Crossbasket House provides to families, we knew we wanted to give something back. The House made such a difference to us during one of the most difficult times in our lives, and we want other families to have that same support when they need it most.

“Our first fundraiser will be this summer when we’ll be organising a sponsored dog walk with our pack. It feels like a meaningful way for us to raise funds and awareness, while also saying thank you to a place that meant so much to our family.”